CURRICULUM VITAE
PART ONE
Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
Social and Behavioral Interventions Program
Department of International Health
Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health
615 N. Wolfe St., Room E5038
Baltimore, MD 21205
Tel: 410-955-3537
Fax: 410-502-6733
Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
BA
2001
Harvard University
Department of Anthropology
Concentration: Social Anthropology, Pre-Medicine
Cambridge, MA
Undergraduate Thesis: Participated in semester study-abroad anthropological fieldwork to
examine influence of urban development on father-son relationships in rural Kenya.
Cultural studies certificate from School of International Training (SIT).
MHS
2005
Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Department of International Health
Track: Health Systems (Advisor: Weiss; Co-Advisor: Winch)
Baltimore, MD
Master’s Thesis: Designed and coordinated in-country process evaluation of communitybased neonatal health workers in Sylhet, Bangladesh to examine programmatic and policy
implications for use of community health workers in the reduction of neonatal mortality.
PhD
2009
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health
Track: Perinatal, Women’s, and Reproductive Health (Advisor: Hindin)
Doctoral Thesis: Developed and implemented a mixed-methods group randomized clinical
trial to evaluate the effect of a job aids and task shifting initiative on quality of maternal
and newborn care in rural Benin.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Department of International Health
Social and Behavioral Interventions Program, Baltimore MD
2012 – Present
My research primarily focuses on the design and evaluation of small-scale economic strengthening activities (i.e.,
entrepreneurship, livelihood, youth savings, cash incentives, and financial or vocational training) to address sexual
and reproductive health disparities, including HIV prevention, among adolescents and young adults. I am also
interested in the use of mobile and social networking technologies to mitigate economic health disparities. My
current research spans across several health disparity populations, including: African-American homeless and
unstably housed youth in Baltimore, MD and Washington D.C., reservation-based Native American adolescents,
post-conflict Congolese youth, and Kenyan young adults living in urban slums. [Methods: biostatistics, qualitative
research, psychometric analysis]
2015 Curriculum Vitae
Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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Senior Evaluation Advisor
Abt Associates, Inc.
International Health Group (M&E) Bethesda, MD
2011 – 2012
Provided technical support to monitoring, evaluation, and research initiatives across international health division,
including dissemination of results from performance tracking, data quality reviews, and process and impact
evaluations. Responsible for design and conduct of national maternal and child household survey in
Nigeria/PATHS2.
Senior Research Officer
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)
Implementation Research Division, Washington, D.C
2010 – 2011
Responsible for development and management of implementation research studies to improve facility and
community prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV across sub-Saharan African country
programs. Duties included development of program monitoring and evaluation protocols, grant writing, tool
development, data analysis, and in-country research training of field staff. Principal investigator of formative
research on consumer and health worker perspectives on mobile phone technology for PMTCT (Kenya); Coprincipal investigator of mHealth PMTCT community-based intervention trial (Kenya); Co-investigator of impact
assessment of village health workers on PMTCT (Zimbabwe).
Associate (Adjunct)
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2010 – 2012
Department of Population, Family, & Reproductive Health, Baltimore, MD
Provided guest lectures on program evaluation methods and operational learning for maternal and child health and
HIV/AIDS programming – Associate Level (unsalaried)
Founder, Director
My Own Tutor, LLC
Self-owned Maryland Small Business
2010 – 2012
Started and managed a full-service, private tutoring agency incorporated in the State of Maryland. Managed 4-person
tutoring staff dedicated to providing customized educational services to students and adults in the Washington DC
metropolitan area. Responsible for all aspects of business administration (web, accounting, legal, etc.).
Research and Evaluation
Advisor
University Research Co., LLC (URC)
USAID Health Care Improvement (HCI) Project
Research and Evaluation Team, Bethesda, MD
2005 – 2010
Provided technical support to country programs worldwide in the design (methods and tools), implementation,
analysis and write-up of operations research studies related to improving the quality of care in areas such as
maternal, child and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, malaria, nutrition, and psychosocial support. Worked as
technical advisor in synthesizing learning across country studies on topics such as institutionalization, human
resource management, scale-up, and cost-effectiveness of quality improvement methods.
Program evaluations included: Examination of quality and coverage of maternal and reproductive health services
(Mali); Evaluation of job aids and task shifting for perinatal care (Benin); Evaluation of the institutionalization of
improved essential obstetric and newborn care (Niger); Examination of consumer willingness-to-pay for rapid
diagnostic tests for infectious diseases (Benin); Assessment of CHW use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (Zambia)
Graduate Teaching
Assistant
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2006 – 2007
Department of International Health
Course Title: Issues in Maternal Mortality Reduction in Developing Countries
Course Title: Health Information Systems (Online)
Provided teaching assistance to graduate students with 65+ student enrollment on courses related to maternal and
neonatal mortality in developing countries and health systems management. Duties included leading lab sessions,
grading exams and student papers, and providing course administrative support.
Research Assistant
International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh 2004 – 2005
Project to Advance the Health of Newborns and Mothers
2015 Curriculum Vitae
Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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(PROJAHNMO), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Designed and coordinated in-country process evaluation of community-based neonatal health workers in Sylhet,
Bangladesh to examine programmatic and policy implications for use of community health workers in the reduction
of neonatal mortality. Designed data collection tools and methodology. Analyzed and prepared evaluation report.
Financial Analyst
Superior Financial Corporation, Little Rock, AR
2002 – 2003
Gathered and analyzed financial data as related to company performance, revenue, and investor relations. Duties
included creating financial summary reports and presentations relative to projected earnings, economic climate, and
competitor market. Responsible for ensuring accuracy of calculations on measures of return on investment,
including adhering to shareholder reporting regulations and corporate finance guidelines.
Algebra Teacher
American Pacific International School, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2001 – 2002
Taught basic and advanced Algebra (43 students, 2 classes) and elementary performing arts (16 students). Led
mathematics department in design of mathematics curriculum for U.S. education accreditation.
Research Assistant
Institute for Health and Social Justice
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
2000 – 2001
Examined past eradication programs (malaria, smallpox, polio) to garner lessons learned and policy implications for
health as a human right, particularly in the context of HIV and AIDS and other related global epidemics. Also
responsible for transcribing health and social justice lectures series led by Paul Farmer, Partners in Health.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Society Memberships
American Public Health Association
Society for International Development
U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Advisory Panels
2012 – 2014
2011 – 2012
2010 – 2011
Trustee – Board of Advisors and Trustees, Community Systems Foundation
Reviewer – Abstract Review Committee, Global Implementation Conference
Member - Quality Improvement Committee, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
EDITORIAL ACTIVITIES
Peer Review Activities
AIDS and Behavior
BMC Health Services Research
Journal of Adolescence
Journal of Health Communication
Maternal and Child Health Journal
Applied Clinical Informatics
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Journal of Family Issues
Journal of Perinatology
PLoS One
HONORS AND AWARDS
2015-2020
2014-2016
2013-2014
2013-2014
2006-2007
2005-2009
2003-2005
Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award, NIH: NIMH
Health Disparities Loan Repayment Award, NIH: NIMHD
HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) Scholars Award, NIH: NAID, NIDA, NIMH
PRIDE Scholars Award, Comparative Effectiveness Research, NIH: NHLBI
Leopold Schepp Foundation Language Training Award
Minority Health Training Award, Department of Population, Family, & Reproductive Health
Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2015 Curriculum Vitae
Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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PUBLICATIONS
1. Harvey SA, Jennings L, Chinyama M, Masaninga F, Mulholland K, Bell D. Improving community health use of
malaria rapid diagnostic tests in Zambia: package instructions, a job aid, and job aid-plus-training. Malaria
Journal 2008; 7:160-172.
2. Franco LM, Burkhalter B, de Wagt A, Jennings L, Kelley AG, Hammink M. Evidence base for children
affected by HIV and AIDS in low prevalence and concentrated epidemic countries: applicability to
programming guidance from high prevalence countries. AIDS Care 2009; 21(1): 49-59.
3. Jennings L, Affo J, Yebadokpo A, Agbogbe M. Antenatal counseling in maternal and newborn care: use of job
aids to improve health worker performance and maternal understanding in Benin. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
2010, 10:75.
4. Rahman SM, Ali NA, Jennings L, Seraji MH, Mannan I, Shah R, Mahmud AB, Bari S, Hossain D, Das M,
Baqui A, Arifeen ES, Winch PJ. Factors affecting recruitment and retention of community health workers in a
newborn care intervention in Bangladesh. Human Resources for Health 2010, 8:12 doi:10.1186.
5. Jennings L, Yebadokpo A, Affo J, Agbogbe M, Tankoano A. Task shifting in maternal and newborn care: a
non-inferiority study examining delegation of antenatal counseling to lay nurse aides supported by job aids in
Benin. Implementation Science 2011, 6:2.
6. Jennings L, Ong’ech J, Simuyu R, Sirengo M, Kassaye S. Exploring the use of mobile technology for the
enhancement of the mother-to-child transmission of HIV program in Nyanza, Kenya: a qualitative study. BMC
Public Health 2013, 13:1131.
7. Jennings L, Gagliardi L*. Influence of mHealth interventions on gender roles in developing countries: a
systematic literature review. International Journal for Equity in Health 2013 Oct 16; 12(1):85.
8. Ononge S*, Karamagi C, Nakabiito C, Wandabwa J, Mirembe F, Rukundo G, Jennings L. Predictors of
unknown HIV serostatus at time of labor and delivery in Kampala, Uganda. International Journal of Gynecology and
Obstetrics 2014 Mar; 124(3):235-9.
9. Jennings L, Bertrand J, Rech D, Harvey S, Hatzold K, Samkange C, Omondi D, Fimbo B, Cherutich P, Perry
L, Castor D, Njeuhmeli E. Quality of voluntary medical male circumcision services during rapid scale-up: a
comparative process evaluation in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. PLoS ONE 2014 May 6;
9(5):e79524.
10. Jennings L, Yebadokpo A, Affo J, Tankoano A, Agbogbe M. Use of job aids to improve facility-based
postnatal counseling and care in rural Benin. Maternal and Child Health Journal 2014 Jun 11. DOI
10.1007/s10995-014-1537-5
11. Kabagenyi A*, Jennings L, Atuyambe L, Reid A, Nalwadda G, Ntozi J. Barriers to male involvement in
contraceptive uptake and reproductive health: a qualitative study of men and women’s perceptions in two rural
districts in Uganda. Reproductive Health 2014, Mar 5; 11(1):21.
12. Jennings L, Na M*, Cherewick M*, Hindin M, Mullany B, Ahmed S. Women’s empowerment and male
involvement in antenatal care: analyses of demographic and health surveys (DHS) in selected African countries.
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2014 Aug 30;14(1):297.
13. Jennings L, Rompalo A, Wang J, Hughes J, Adimora A, Hodder S, Soto-Torres LE, Frew PM, Haley DF, and
the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN064) Women’s HIV SeroIncidence Study (ISIS). Prevalence and
2015 Curriculum Vitae
Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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correlates of knowledge of male partner HIV testing and serostatus among African-American women living in
high poverty, high HIV prevalence communities (HPTN 064). AIDS and Behavior 2015 Feb;19(2):291-301.
14. Jennings L. Do men need empowering too? A systematic review of entrepreneurial education and
microenterprise development on health disparities among inner-city black male youth. Journal of Urban Health
2014 Oct; 91(5):836-50.
15. Aguiar C*, Jennings L. Impact of male partner antenatal accompaniment on perinatal health outcomes in
developing countries: a systematic literature review. Reproductive Health 2015; 1-8.
16. Jennings L, Shore D, Strohminger N, Burgundi A. Economic-strengthening activities for U.S. minority
homeless youth: a qualitative inquiry on value, barriers, and impact on health. Children and Youth Services Review
2015; 49: 39-47.
17. Jennings L, Omoni A, Akerele A, Ibrahim Y, Ekanem E. Disparities in mobile phone use and maternal health
service utilization in Nigeria: a population-based survey. International Journal of Medical Informatics 2015; 84: 341-48.
* Indicates manuscript published in collaboration with student or mentee
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Economic Empowerment Research
Jennings L. Minimizing Health Disparities through Economic Empowerment for U.S. Minority and Sub-Saharan African Youth:
Research Strategy and Aims. Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (IICTR) Annual PRIDE Scholars
Meeting. May 2014. New York, NY. [Poster Presentation]
Jennings L. Rompalo A, Wang J, Hughes J, Adimora A, Hodder S, Soto-Torres LE, Frew PM, Haley DF. Prevalence
and correlates of knowledge of male partner HIV testing and serostatus among African-American women living in high poverty, high
HIV prevalence communities (HPTN 064). HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) Annual Meeting. June 2014.
Arlington, VA. [Oral Presentation]
Health Services Research
Massoud M.R., Dick S, Shakir F, Jennings L, Barker P, Bennett B, Gaudreault S. Designing a Health Care
Improvement Project [Full-day Skills-building Workshop/Facilitator – Global Health Conference 2010 –
Washington DC]. USAID Health Care Improvement Project, University Research Co., LLC.
Jennings L, Massoud M. R., Shakir F., Jean-Baptiste R, Livesley N. Improving Care for Patients on Antiretroviral
Therapy (ART) – The ART Framework hypothesis testing in Nicaragua and Tanzania. [Oral presentation/Instructor
– USAID Global Health Mini-University 2009 – Washington DC]. USAID Health Care Improvement Projet,
University Research Co., LLC.
Jennings L, Jean-Baptiste R, Stevenson R, Burkhalter B. Health-sector based stigma and discrimination: Evaluation
of attitudes and practices of health care providers towards HIV-positive patients in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. [Oral
presentation – American Public Health Association, Conference 2007 – Abstract #162458, Washington DC].
Quality Assurance Project, University Research Co., LLC.
Jennings L, Ali N and Winch P. 2005. Community-health workers in Bangladesh: Negotiation and counseling in
newborn care preparedness. [Poster Presentation – American Public Health Association, Conference 2005 –
Abstract #112295, Philadelphia, PA]. Project to Advance the Health of Newborns and Mothers. Johns Hopkins
University and International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh.
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Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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CURRICULUM VITAE
PART TWO
Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
TEACHING & ADVISING
Classroom Instruction
2012 – Present
Qualitative Research Theory and Methods: This 5-academic credit course (#224.690)
provides students with practical skills and theoretical understanding for conducting
qualitative inquiry, including programmatic qualitative research, grounded theory,
ethnography, phenomenology, and narrative research. Students work in groups to design
and conduct field-based qualitative research in order to apply course methods to real-world
public health issues. Enrollment: 60-75 students [Co-Instructor]
Advisees
Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) or Public Health (DrPH)
Fan Yang
Samira Sami
Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
Shristi Pandey
Wendy Yang
Nicole Lee
Elise Grover
Amanda Berman
Canada Parrish
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Ray Reider
Natalie Draisin
ACADEMIC SERVICE
2014 – Present
2012 – Present
2012 – Present
2007 – 2008
Assistant MSPH Coordinator, Social and Behavioral Interventions Program
JHU Global mHealth Initiative, Steering Committee
JHSPH SBI MSPH Admissions Application Review Committee
Johns Hopkins Institutions Diversity Leadership Council
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Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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RESEARCH GRANT PARTICIPATION
Ongoing Research
MHealth-enhanced economic empowerment initiatives for HIV Prevention among
youth living in urban slums in Kenya: a scale-development and pilot study
Dates:
01/01/13 – 12/31/15
Sponsoring Agency:
NIAID P30 AI094189-01A1/Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)
Funding Type:
Career Development Award (Competitive)
Funding Level:
$49,993
Principal Investigator:
Larissa Jennings, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
My Role:
PI Lead for all technical, implementation and administrative aspects of study
Main Grant Objective:
To develop and test an HIV-contextualized economic empowerment scale and
explore youth's perceptions of using mobile phones for HIV-preventive economic
empowerment initiatives. (Qualitative + Quantitative)
Title:
Impact of a youth entrepreneurship program on psychosocial, health risk behavioral,
and economic outcomes among White Mountain Apache adolescents: a randomized
intervention trial
Dates:
8/01/13 – 7/30/18
Sponsoring Agency:
NIH Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH)
Funding Type:
Research Grant – U261IHS0080A
Funding Level:
$263,258
Principal Investigator:
Allison Barlow, Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health
My Role:
Co-Investigator – research methods advisor
Main Grant Objective:
To examine the effect of a business and social entrepreneurship model for
reservation-based Apache adolescents on psychosocial, mental health, substance
use, and related economic outcomes (Quantitative + Qualitative)
Title:
Youth and adult microfinance to improve resilience outcomes in the Democratic
Republic of Congo: a randomized intervention trial
Dates:
08/16/12 – 05/31/17
Sponsoring Agency:
NIH, NICHD R01 HD071958-02
Funding Type:
Research Grant
Funding Level:
$475,853
Principal Investigator:
Nancy Glass, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
My Role:
Ancillary Study PI
Ancillary Study Objective: To examine the comparative effect of combined versus youth-led animal
husbandry microfinance on youth’s economic empowerment, health intentions and
risk avoidance (Quantitative)
Pending Research
Title:
Integrating microenterprise and behavioral economics for HIV prevention in AfricanAmerican young adults: a randomized behavioral trial
Dates:
4/01/2015 – 3/31/2020
Sponsoring Agency:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Funding Type:
K01MH107310 (Jennings)
Funding Level:
$819,721
Role:
Principal Investigator
Goal:
The goal is to evaluate a microenterprise model adapted for underserved U.S.
communities with integrated behavioral economic nudges on reduction of sexual
and related risk behaviors, as well as psychosocial and economic outcomes among highrisk, high-poverty African-American young adults. (Qualitative + Quantitative)
Title:
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Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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Completed Research
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Title:
Evaluation of the role of job aids and task-shifting on quality of maternal and newborn
care (MNC) and counseling in Zou/Collines, Benin: a group randomized clinical trial
Dates:
07/01/07 – 8/30/09
Sponsoring Agencies:
USAID Health Care Improvement (HCI) Project
USAID Integrated Family Health Project (PISAF)
University Research Council, LLC, Research/Implementation Science
Funding Type:
Pre-Doctoral Research Grant
Funding Level:
$120,000
Principal Investigator:
Larissa Jennings, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
My Role:
PI Lead for all technical, implementation and administrative aspects of study
Main Grant Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a two-stage clinic-based quality improvement
approach on MNC counseling and behavioral outcomes in rural Benin.
(Quantitative + Qualitative)
Published Manuscripts:
Jennings L, et al (2014) Maternal and Child Health Journal
Jennings L, et al. (2011) Implementation Science
Jennings L, et al. (2010) BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Mobile phone technology for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of
HIV: acceptability, effectiveness, and cost
Dates:
4/15/11 - 11/15/13
Sponsoring Agency:
World Health Organization, Grants Programme for Implementation Research
Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research /C6-TSA-024 HQHSR1003602
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)
Funding Type:
Implementation Science Research Grant (Competitive)
Funding Level:
$450,000
Principal Investigator:
John Ong’ech, EGPAF
My Role:
Co-Principal Investigator
Main Grant Objective:
To examine the effectiveness of SMS text communication on PMTCT completion
up to six weeks postpartum among HIV-infected women in rural Kenya.
(Quantitative)
Published Manuscript:
Jennings L, et al. (2013) BMC Public Health
Title:
African-American homeless youth's perspectives of a mobile-based intervention for
economic empowerment and HIV prevention: a formative research study
Dates:
01/15/13 – 01/14/15
Sponsoring Agency:
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Funding Type:
Faculty Discretionary Funds
Funding Level:
$3,810
Principal Investigator:
Larissa Jennings, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
My Role:
PI Lead for all study aspects and supervisor of research assistant.
Main Grant Objective:
To conduct formative or market research for the design of a mobile-based health
and financial education tool for homeless youth living in Baltimore, MD and
Washington, DC (Quantitative + Qualitative)
Published Manuscript:
Jennings L, et al. (2015) Children and Youth Services Review
Title:
Influence of household savings and expected future means on delivery with a skilled
birth attendant: a longitudinal cohort analysis (Family Health and Wealth Study)
Dates:
1/01/14 – 12/31/14
Sponsoring Agency:
Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Title
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Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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Ancillary Award:
My Role:
Ancillary Study Objective:
$10,000
Ancillary Study PI
To examine if women in households with greater savings and expectations of being
financially better-off in the coming year are more likely to deliver with a skilled
birth attendant as compared to women in families with fewer liquid assets or
negative expected future means.
Completed Training Awards
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NIH Comparative effectiveness research institute: programs to increase diversity
among individuals engaged in health-related research (PRIDE)
Dates:
07/01/13 – 06/30/14
Sponsoring Agency:
NIH (NHLBI) 5 R25 HL 105401-3
Funding Type:
Research Education Grant
Nationally Competitive, Selected as 1 out of 11 Trainees
Funding Level:
$17,715
Principal Investigator:
Melissa D. Begg, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
My Role:
Junior Faculty Trainee
Trainee Objective:
To acquire supplemental training in cost-effectiveness, decision analysis,
biostatistics, and grantsmanship to support research to examine economic and
structural interventions to address U.S. and global health disparities.
Title:
Title:
NIH HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) Prevention Scholars Program
Dates:
05/01/13 – 11/30/14
Sponsoring Agency:
NIH (NIAID, NIMH, NIDA) UM1 AI068619
HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN)
Funding Type:
HPTN Scholars Award
Nationally Competitive, Selected as 1 out of 4 Scholars
Network Studies:
HPTN 064: The Women’s HIV Seroincidence Study (PI: Hodder)
HPTN 068: Effects of cash transfer for the prevention of HIV in young South
African women (PI: Pettifor)
Funding Level:
$92,712
Principal Investigator:
Wafaa M. El-Sadr, Family Health International
Senior HPTN Mentors:
Anne Rompalo, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Audrey Pettifor, University of North Carolina, School of Global Public Health
My Role:
Ancillary Study PI
Ancillary Study Objective: (1) To examine multi-level characteristics, including economic factors, associated
with couple’s communication regarding prior HIV testing and serostatus among
lower-income U.S. minority women. (Quantitative); (2) To examine association of
economic assets and control on young South African women’s HIV sexual risk,
power, and partner communication (Quantitative)
Published Manuscripts:
Jennings L, et al. (2014) AIDS and Behavior
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Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am a reproductive health behavioral scientist with training in biostatistics, epidemiology, program evaluation and
social anthropology. My research primarily focuses on the design and evaluation of small-scale economic
strengthening activities (i.e., entrepreneurship, livelihood, youth savings, cash incentives, and financial or vocational
training) to address sexual and reproductive health disparities, including HIV prevention, among adolescents and
young adults. I am also interested in the use of mobile and social networking technologies to mitigate economic
health disparities. My current research spans across several health disparity populations, including: African-American
homeless and unstably housed youth in Baltimore, MD and Washington D.C., reservation-based Native American
adolescents, post-conflict Congolese youth, and Kenyan young adults living in urban slums. My research draws on a
combination of research methodologies, including biostatistics, qualitative research, psychometric analysis, and
systematic reviews.
Keywords: economic-strengthening interventions, asset development, economic empowerment, adolescents, young
adults, mHealth, perinatal health, sexual and reproductive health, HIV, health disparities, psychosocial outcomes,
biostatistics, qualitative research, mixed methods, implementation research
LANUAGE AND FIELD COMPETENCIES
Languages:
English, French
International
Bangladesh, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa
Field Experience:
U.S. Field
Experience:
Baltimore MD, Washington DC, Fort Apache, AZ
2015 Curriculum Vitae
Larissa Jennings, PhD MHS
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