April Update

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are over six weeks into the various stay-at-home orders here in the United States, with many other countries undergoing even longer lock-downs, while some are beginning to lift social distancing restrictions. This is another moment in time that has united us all globally, making the world feel so much smaller – as we together continue to improve and make it a better place. We still must have real concerns for those who are voiceless with little power and so it is a good time to support those CBOs and NGOs ensuring food and other necessities are distributed. RTI has also stepped up with real solutions with COVID-19, as have individuals in their own communities. Collectively, we are an awesome community!

Words cannot express the sincere gratitude we share for those on the front lines of this global fight, the health care workers, airline staff, truck drivers, food plant staff, delivery workers, grocery store staff, farmers, scientists, and those who have done their part to slow the spread. Thank You!!






































The COVID-19 pandemic will leave lasting impacts on this world, including unveiling even more of the curtain that has been cast on gender and racial inequities. Those of us who work in gender, including intimate partner violence and addiction research are also concerned about the incidents we know are happening while the mandate is to shelter in place. Although there are important local resources for women to seek shelter and substance abuse treatment, there are limits to the number that can be accommodated during this COVID-19 pandemic. For further discussion on these topics, please consider reading my latest LinkedIn Article.


Stay safe, and please maintain social distancing and other strategies to stay healthy!



RTI Gender-related April Project Wins


















  • MITS Supplement (including Ethiopia Task Shifting) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

  • SEL: Trauma Sensitivity Spring 2020 Workshop from Umbrella

  • FITS Correcting for Iron Absorptionfrom Gerber Products Company

  • WWT/IQC Colombia Mission IPC July 2020 from USAID Colombia Mission

  • Kenan Charitable Trust - Advancing Equity in NC School Districts from The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust

  • AMRDC JPC-6 Bio-eng Blood TLMfrom Montana State University

  • Digital Parenting Resource- Audience research and program design needsfrom Child Mind Institute












  • HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC) Beh Sci Consult Group (BSCG) Support - Year 2 from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

  • OVC FY19 Direct Services to Support Victims of Human Traffickingfrom YMCA International of Greater Houston

  • Optimizing place of treatment and antibiotic regimens for young infantsfrom the World Health Organization (WHO)

  • Antenatal Postnatal Research Collective (ARC) data services component from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

  • Tier 2: Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement from USAID Bureau for Food Security




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RTI Gender-related Publications in April
























Armstrong B, Hepworth AD, Black MM. (2020).Hunger in the household: Food insecurity and associations with maternal eating and toddler feeding. Pediatr Obes.


Doherty IA, Browne FA, Wechsberg WM. (2020). Think Inside the Box: the Heterogeneity of "in Risk" Among "at Risk" Female African American Adolescents in North Carolina. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities.

Ekstrand ML, Raj T, Heylen E, Nyblade L, Devdass D, Pereira M, Mazur A, Srinivasan K. (2020). Reducing HIV stigma among healthcare providers in India using a partly tablet-administered intervention: the DriSti trial. AIDS Care.

Flax VL, Kasasa S, Ssendagire S, Lane C, Atuyambe L, Lance PM, Ssengooba F, Draru J, Bobrow EA. (2020). Using a Quality Improvement Approach in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Program in Uganda Improves Key Outcomes and Is Sustainable in Demonstration Facilities: Partnership for HIV-Free Survival. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 

Goldenberg RL, McClure EM. (2020). Thoughts on assigning cause of death for stillbirth and neonatal death: a commentary.

Kranzler HR, Washio Y, Zindel LR, Lynch KG, Hand D, Tyndale RF, Oncken C, Schnoll R. (2020). Pregnant Smokers Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy Have an Elevated Nicotine Metabolite Ratio: A Replication Study. Nicotine Tob Res.

Kahwati LC, Clark R, Berkman N, Urrutia R, Patel SV, Zeng J, Viswanathan M. (2020). Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Adolescents and Women to Prevent Preterm Delivery: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA.









Klaman SL, Turner K, Lorvick J, Jones HE. (2020). Integrating Reproductive and Sexual Health Education and Services Into Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Programs: A Qualitative Study. J Addict Med.


Ngongo CJ, Raassen T, Lombard L, van Roosmalen J, Weyers S, Temmerman M. (2020). Delivery mode for prolonged, obstructed labour resulting in obstetric fistula: a retrospective review of 4396 women in East and Central Africa. BJOG.

Pedrana AE, Pina J, Padmawati RS, Zuhrina R, Lazuardi L, Lim MSC, Hellard ME, Prabandari YS. (2020). A quasi-experimental text messaging trial to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health and smoking knowledge in Indonesia. Sex Health.

Roberts ST, Nair G, Baeten JM, Palanee-Philips T, Schwartz K, Reddy K, Kabwigu S, Matovu Kiweewa F, Govender V, Gaffoor Z, Singh N, Siva S, Naidoo K, Montgomery ET; for the MTN-020/ASPIRE Team (2020). Impact of Male Partner Involvement on Women's Adherence to the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring During a Phase III HIV Prevention Trial. AIDS Behav.

Wesselink AK, Hatch EE, Rothman KJ, Willis SK, Orta OR, Wise LA. (2020). Pesticide residue intake from fruits and vegetables and fecundability in a North American preconception cohort study. Environ Int.


























We update our website regularly with all RTI Gender-related publications under resources. Please let us know if we missed any of yours. 





Calls to Action





















Please consider donating your soda pull tabs to Sister Rosemary who lives in Uganda and takes in children who have been released from rebel soldiers after being kidnapped. The bag in the image above is an example of what they make. At this point at least 30,000 kids have been kidnapped. She takes care of 300 to 500 kids each night to help them recover from sex trafficking. She provides them with access to education, food, shelter, and teaches them to sew. Thank you for your help!


Sewing Hope Foundation website: http://www.sewinghopefoundation.com/
Sister Rosemary at TEDxUCO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2hgG9BAJLo

PLEASE EMAIL ERIN DOBBINS (edobbins@rti.org) TO COORDINATE SENDING YOUR PULL TABS BEFORE JUNE 5th! 




April Events Recap








































































On April 15, 41 participants engaged in a virtual dialogue formulating questions and solutions to continuing gender-related research during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns that were raised included: staying connected with research participants, considering the barriers to proper hygiene for research participants, and the possible increase in violence for research participants during the pandemic. From these questions, participants in the conversation collaborated on solutions and future considerations. Overall, the conversation was informative and encouraged the sharing of important resources to continue gender research during this difficult time.


Gender-related COVID-19 resources as well as the virtual session recording are available to RTI GGC affiliates upon request, and accessible on the Center's internal share drive.



Gender Science News


COVID-19 could lead to millions of unintended pregnancies, new UN-backed data reveals

Children who hold 'benevolent' sexist views are also likely to possess 'hostile' ones

The Coronavirus Is a Disaster for Feminism

Men pose more risk to other road users than women

Movement toward gender equality has slowed in some areas, stalled in others

Social Media


Are you following us on Twitter
@RTI_Gender?


Don't miss out on snippets of our current gender-related research and important dates to remember!



Looking Ahead


















InWomen's Group Conference Goes VIRTUAL, Waiving All Registration Fees!
June 19, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,InWomen's 2020 will be an entirely virtual conference this year. InWomen's is excited to take this new step and will have fun and creative ways for attendees to remain connected and share the important work that is being done globally. Registration fees have been waived, however attendees are still required to register to receive the secure Zoom link. Registration will open the first week of May.


Join Our Mailing List