February Monthly Update

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
 

This February we honored Black History Month all throughout February by sharing RTI’s important gender-related work related to critical issues Black populations in the United States and abroad face. We know that racial justice and equity are critical to addressing gender disparities, and the importance of this month cannot be understated by remembering the past. This month culminated in a wonderful researcher panel and conversation earlier today, which you can read more about below! As we look ahead to March, I am excited about our upcoming International Women's Day event in affiliation with WomenNC, the 13th Annual Local to Global Forum, where local university scholars who have been femtored by RTI GGC affiliates, will share their research publicly for the first time in preparation for presentations at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. While our InWomen's abstract deadline ends tonight, you will have the opportunity to submit latebreaker abstracts from May 1--7. 

We are also working with WALS -- the Women Advancing Leadership for Success employee resource group -- to bring Reshma Saujani, the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, to speak in honor of International Women's Day along with several panelists from RTI to discuss how their work is "Breaking the Bias," this year's International Women's Day theme. We hope to see you there!

And did you hear? Ketanji Jackson Brown has been nominated to the Supreme Court! Read about her, class president of my Miami high school. An amazing all around role model, mentor/femtor, sister-friend and professional. On a more anxious note, I am sickened by the war in Ukraine. We are a caring global community, and know that USAID just has jumped in to support Ukraine, along with many other NGOs. We have women colleagues who live and do gender research there and I have been in touch. They are living in the subway and parking decks, and have sent pictures of dire circumstances. We hope they stay safe.

As two years of this COVID passes, it gives me pause to wonder how different we are now? I know I am.

I wish you and yours health during a time of change. 

In health,
Dr. Wendee
she/her/hers

RTI Gender-related February Publications

  • Andrews, S. M., Porter, K. A., Bailey, D. B., & Peay, H. L. (2022). Preparing newborn screening for the future: a collaborative stakeholder engagement exploring challenges and opportunities to modernizing the newborn screening system. BMC Pediatrics, 22(1), 90. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-03035-x
  • Bergey, M., Chiri, G., Freeman, N. L. B., & Mackie, T. I. (2022). Mapping mental health inequalities: The intersecting effects of gender, race, class, and ethnicity on ADHD diagnosis. Sociology of Health & Illness. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13443
  • Berrios, C., Bollinger, J., Yan, J., Biesecker, B., & Chakravarti, A. (2022). Identifying Needs, Challenges, and Benefits Among Adults and Parents of Children with Hirschsprung Disease. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000003411
  • Deese, J., Brache, V., Bahamondes, L., Salinas, A., Jorge, A., Veiga, N., Fuchs, R., Miller, A., Taylor, D., Halpern, V., & Dorflinger, L. (2022). Contraceptive effectiveness, pharmacokinetics, and safety of Sayana® Press when injected every four months: a multicenter phase 3 trial. EClinicalMedicine, 44, 101273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101273
  • Dherani, M. K., Pope, D., Tafatatha, T., Heinsbroek, E., Chartier, R., Mwalukomo, T., Crampin, A., Mitsi, E., German, E. L., Nikolaou, E., Solórzano, C., Ferreira, D. M., Swarthout, T. D., Hinds, J., Mortimer, K., Gordon, S. B., French, N., & Bruce, N. G. (2022). Association between household air pollution and nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage in Malawian infants (MSCAPE): a nested, prospective, observational study. The Lancet. Global Health, 10(2), e246–e256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00405-8
  • Ettinger de Cuba, S., Mbamalu, M., Bovell-Ammon, A., Black, M. M., Cutts, D. B., Lê-Scherban, F., Coleman, S. M., Ochoa, E. R., Heeren, T. C., Poblacion, A., Sandel, M., Bruce, C., Rateau, L. J., & Frank, D. A. (2022). Prenatal WIC is Associated with Increased Birthweight of Infants Born in the United States with Immigrant Mothers. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.02.005
  • Facco, F. L., Redline, S., Hunter, S. M., Zee, P. C., Grobman, W. A., Silver, R. M., Louis, J. M., Pien, G. W., Mercer, B., Chung, J. H., Bairey Merz, C. N., Haas, D. M., Nhan-Chang, C.-L., Simhan, H. N., Schubert, F. P., Parry, S., Reddy, U., Saade, G. R., Hoffman, M. K., … NICHD NuMoM2b and NHLBI NuMoM2b Heart Health Study Networks. (2022). Sleep Disordered Breathing in Pregnancy and Post-Delivery: Associations with Cardiometabolic Health.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202104-0971OC
  • Firestein, M. R., Romeo, R. D., Winstead, H., Goldman, D. A., Grobman, W. A., Haas, D., Mercer, B., Parker, C., Parry, S., Reddy, U., Silver, R., Simhan, H., Wapner, R. J., & Champagne, F. A. (2022). Elevated prenatal maternal sex hormones, but not placental aromatase, are associated with child neurodevelopment. Hormones and Behavior, 140, 105125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105125
  • Gehtland, L. M., Paquin, R. S., Andrews, S. M., Lee, A. M., Gwaltney, A., Duparc, M., Pfaff, E. R., & Bailey, D. B. (2022). Using a patient portal to increase enrollment in a newborn screening research study: observational study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 5(1), e30941. https://doi.org/10.2196/30941
  • Goulding, A. N., Metz, T. D., Middleton, J. C., Hoffman, M. C., Miller, E. S., Moore Simas, T. A., Stuebe, A., Viswanathan, M., & Gaynes, B. N. (2022). Pharmacologic treatment for perinatal mental health disorders. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 139(2), 297–303. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000004638
  • Groves, A. K., Gebrekristos, L. T., Smith, P. D., Stoebenau, K., Stoner, M. C., Ameyan, W., & Ezeh, A. C. (2022). Adolescent mothers in eastern and southern Africa: an overlooked and uniquely vulnerable subpopulation in the fight against HIV. The Journal of Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.012
  • Guynn, I., Simon, J., Anderson, S., Klaman, S. L., Mullenix, A., Cilenti, D., & Hassmiller Lich, K. (2022). Tools for supporting the MCH workforce in addressing complex challenges: A scoping review of system dynamics modeling in maternal and child health. Maternal and Child Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-022-03376-8
  • Hawley, I., Song, M., Scheckter, R., McClure, T., Piper, J., Chen, B. A., Hoesley, C., Liu, A. Y., & van der Straten, A. (2022). Users’ preferred characteristics of vaginal rings for HIV prevention: A qualitative analysis of two phase I trials. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. https://doi.org/10.1089/AID.2021.0077
  • Kpokiri, E. E., Wu, D., Srinivas, M. L., Anderson, J., Say, L., Kontula, O., Ahmad, N. A., Morroni, C., Izugbara, C., de Visser, R., Oduro, G. Y., Gitau, E., Welbourn, A., Andrasik, M., Norman, W. V., Clifton, S., Gabster, A., Gesselman, A., Smith, C., … Tucker, J. D. (2022). Development of an international sexual and reproductive health survey instrument: results from a pilot WHO/HRP consultative Delphi process. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 98(1), 38–43. https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2020-054822
  • Kroner, B. L., Hankins, J. S., Pugh, N., Kutlar, A., King, A. A., Shah, N. R., Kanter, J., Glassberg, J., Treadwell, M., Gordeuk, V. R., & Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium. (2022). Pregnancy Outcomes with Hydroxyurea Use in Women with Sickle Cell Disease. American Journal of Hematology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.26495
  • Lorvick, J., Hemberg, J. L., Browne, E. N., & Comfort, M. L. (2022). Routine and preventive health care use in the community among women sentenced to probation. Health & Justice, 10(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-022-00167-9
  • Lyons, C., Bendaud, V., Bourey, C., Erkkola, T., Ravichandran, I., Syarif, O., Stangl, A., Chang, J., Ferguson, L., Nyblade, L., Amon, J., Iovita, A., Janušonytė, E., Looze, P., Sprague, L., Sabin, K., UNAIDS Task Team, Baral, S., & Murray, S. M. (2022). Global assessment of existing HIV and key population stigma indicators: A data mapping exercise to inform country-level stigma measurement. PLoS Medicine, 19(2), e1003914. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003914
  • Mills-Koonce, W. R., Towe-Goodman, N., Swingler, M. M., & Willoughby, M. T. (2022). Profiles of family-based social experiences in the first 3 years predict early cognitive, behavioral, and socioemotional competencies.Developmental Psychology, 58(2), 297–310. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001287
  • Minnis, A. M., Browne, E. N., Chavez, M., McGlone, L., Raymond-Flesch, M., & Auerswald, C. (2022). Early sexual debut and neighborhood social environment in Latinx youth. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-050861
  • Naqvi, F., Naqvi, S., Billah, M., Saleem, S., Fogleman, E., Peres-da-Silva, N., Figueroa, L., Mazariegos, M., Garces, A. L., Patel, A., Das, P., Kavi, A., Goudar, S. S., Esamai, F., Chomba, E., Lokangaka, A., Tshefu, A., Haque, R., Siraj, S., … Goldenberg, R. L. (2022). Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Pregnant Women Related to COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-sectional Survey in Seven Countries from the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17122
  • Ridenour, T. A., Murray, D. W., Hinde, J., Glasheen, C., Wilkinson, A., Rackers, H., & Coyne-Beasley, T. (2022). Addressing Barriers to Primary Care Screening and Referral to Prevention for Youth Risky Health Behaviors: Evidence Regarding Potential Cost-Savings and Provider Concerns. Prevention Science, 23(2), 212–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-021-01321-9
  • Ridgeway, K., Montgomery, E. T., Smith, K., Torjesen, K., van der Straten, A., Achilles, S. L., & Griffin, J. B. (2022). Vaginal ring acceptability: A systematic review and meta-analysis of vaginal ring experiences from around the world. Contraception, 106, 16–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2021.10.001
  • Stoner, M. C. D., Browne, E. N., Gundacker, H. M., Hawley, I., Chen, B. A., Hoesley, C., Scheckter, R., Piper, J., Singh, D., Song, M., Liu, A., & van der Straten, A. (2022). Acceptability of an extended duration vaginal ring for HIV prevention and interest in a multi-purpose ring. Plos One, 17(2), e0263664. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263664
  • Theilen, L. H., Greenland, P., Varagic, J., Catov, J., Shanks, A., Thorsten, V., Parker, C. B., McNeil, R., Mercer, B., Hoffman, M., Wapner, R., Haas, D., Simhan, H., Grobman, W., Chung, J. H., Levine, L. D., Barnes, S., Bairey Merz, N., Saade, G., & Silver, R. M. (2022). Association between aspirin use during pregnancy and cardiovascular risk factors 2-7 years after delivery: The nuMoM2b Heart Health Study. Pregnancy Hypertension, 28, 28–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preghy.2022.01.012
  • Trude, A. C. B., Armstrong, B., Kramer Fiala Machado, A., Wickwire, E. M., Covington, L. B., Wang, Y., Hager, E., & Black, M. M. (2022). Waking up to sleep’s role in obesity and blood pressure among Black adolescent girls in low-income, US urban communities: A longitudinal analysis. Sleep Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2021.12.001

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

February Publication Feature

February Publication Feature

In the 10 Eastern and Southern African countries at the focus of this publication, over half of new HIV infections occur among adolescent (10-19 years old) girls. Knowing this, researchers were interested in the impact of adolescent motherhood on HIV risk in this population, and utilized Demographic Health and Survey data along with HIV test information to examine this further. Researchers found a significant positive association between motherhood and risk of HIV, indicating the need for HIV prevention interventions that specifically focus on the unique set of challenges that adolescent mothers may face. Read here

Groves, A. K., Gebrekristos, L. T., Smith, P. D., Stoebenau, K., Stoner, M. C., Ameyan, W., & Ezeh, A. C. (2022).Adolescent mothers in eastern and southern Africa: an overlooked and uniquely vulnerable subpopulation in the fight against HIV. The Journal of Adolescent Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.012

RTI Gender-related February Project Wins

  • Congratulations to Chelsea Lehman and team on their win, Kyrgyz Republic McGovern Dole Food for Education, from Mercy Corps -- USA
  • Congratulations to Lauren Courtney and team on their win, South Sudan HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Program - 2021 Follow on, from the DOD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP)
  • Congratulations to Jennifer Lorvick and team on their win, mHealth Intervention for COVID vaccine hesitancy, from the University of Kansas
  • Congratulations to Becky Mcneil and team on their win, NuMoM2b HH2 - Ancillary Studies - Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment, from Columbia University

February Project Win Feature

February Project Win Feature

The recent project win, mHealth Intervention for COVID vaccine hesitancy, seeks to understand barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake through an mHealth intervention aimed at improving COVID-19 vaccine literacy and access to ultimately improve uptake among justice-involved women in the United States. Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Lorvick and team on their win!
 

February Events

Black History Month RTI Researcher Panel

Black History Month RTI Researcher Panel
In honor of Black History Month the RTI Global Gender Center hosted a panel featuring affiliate researchers Drs. Felicia Browne, Kineka Hull, and Janelle Armstrong-Brown, and was moderated by affiliate Dr. Courtney Bonner. Panelists discussed their past and ongoing research efforts and work as well as their motivation to do the work they do. Panelists discussed sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and redlining and the impacts that these issues have on Black populations in the United States and South Africa. This event was attended by over 50 affiliates.

Upcoming Events

Local to Global Forum

The RTI Global Gender Center and WomenNC invite you to the 13th Annual Local to Global Forum on March 4th from 2 to 3:00 PM EST!
 
The RTI Global Gender Center partners with WomenNC annually to provide “femtors” for students from universities including UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University to guide their research into critical issues faced by women in North Carolina. Scholars create projects that examine a variety of issues critical to gender equality in North Carolina, then develop initiatives and advocacy plans to influence public policy. They present their work locally hosted by the RTI Global Gender Center before presenting globally at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) with the goal of improving the lives of women and girls.
 
This year’s scholars will present their research projects and how they are #BreakingTheBias to a North Carolina audience in honor of International Women’s Day. This year's topics include:

  • The impact of COVID-19 on childcare and maternal career outcomes;
  • The impact of green feminine stereotypes on sustainability;
  • How COVID-19 has impacted sexual and reproductive healthcare access in Durham;
  • How COVID-19 has changed availability of housing among women of color in Durham;
  • Wake County Public School's reproductive health education policies and barriers to empowerment.

 
Please join us to learn how “the next generation” is creating a world free of gender discrimination.
 
Register for this event herehttps://rtiorg.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIof-qsrjopHtLOABm2jUeDmfJpLn3Pwu7U

International Women's Day 2022

In celebration of International Women’s Day, RTI invites you to join us as we explore individual and collective paths to gender equality and uncover new ways to #BreakTheBias on March 9th from 11:00 AM -- 12:30 PM EST.

We are pleased to welcome keynote speaker Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms, along with a panel of RTI leaders, for a lively and important conversation about overcoming bias at work and beyond.

This event is being hosted by the RTI Women’s Advancement, Leadership, and Success Employee Resource Group; the RTI Global Gender Center; and our International Development Group.

Register for this event herehttps://rtiorg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F4P-8jlOR526TRAWHAmhgw 

InWomen's Call for Abstracts

14th InWomen's Group Conference: Facing Our Challenges and Keeping Our Commitment in the Field of Gender and Substance Use | June 10, 2022

The 2022 InWomen's Conference will be in-person this year in Minneapolis, Minnesota! The conference will also have a hybrid option for those who are unable to attend in person.
 
Call for Abstracts
Abstracts for 5-minute oral presentations are being solicited in lieu of posters.
Panel II will also welcome oral presentations from a select number of early-career investigators with high-quality abstracts based on the following criteria:
(1) Adheres to the InWomen's mission, focus, and 2022 theme;
(2) Contains a gender and substance use component or focus;
(3) Is well written and follows format guidelines and;
(4) Is focused on a critical topic

All abstracts will be peer-reviewed by the InWomen's Abstract Review Committee. 
NOTICE: Late Breaker submissions with new data will be accepted for consideration May 1-7, 2022

Key Dates:
Abstract Submission Deadline: February 28th at 11:59 PM EST
Decision Notifications and Registration: March 2022
Late Breaker Submissions: May 1 - 7, 2022

Submit Abstracts Here

Gender Science News

More chemicals, fewer words: Exposure to chemical mixtures during pregnancy alters brain development
Wisdom engendered: Study finds men and women have different strengths
Study shows differences between brains of girls, boys with autism
Monitoring breast milk for PFAS
Tubal ligation no better than IUD at preventing pregnancy, study shows

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