Jennifer J. Infanti

About

Research areas/methods/contexts of interest: global health, gender-based violence, reproductive health, migration and health, medical anthropology, resilience, implementation/applied research, narrative research, Nepal, South Asia.

Current research funding & project management:

2020-2025 Co-Principal Investigator of the second phase of the Addressing Domestic Violence in Antenatal Care Environments study (ADVANCE 2)

Awarded 5-years of funding from the Research Council of Norway (FRIPRO)
Collaboration between the Department of Public Health and Nursing at NTNU, University of South-Eastern Norway, Linnaeus University (Sweden), Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital (Nepal), Dhulikhel Hospital-Kathmandu School of Medical Sciences (Nepal), and Johns Hopkins University (USA).

2019-2024 Principal Investigator of the OPTIMISE study - Optimising pregnancy and childbirth care for immigrant women in Central Norway

Awarded funding from the Regional Health Authority of Central Norway/Samarbeidsorganet
Collaboration between the Department of Public Health and Nursing at NTNU and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Kvinneklinikken) at St. Olavs University Hospital

Current supervision of research students:

PhD candidates: 3 (main supervisor), 1 (co-supervisor)
Research-medical students (medisinstudenter i forskerlinje): 1 (main supervisor)
Master's students: 1 (main supervisor)

Academic & professional history:

I completed my doctoral degree in social anthropology in New Zealand (2004-2008). My PhD research explored children's capacities for resilience in the context of domestic violence and other life adversities through a community-based intervention and life-story interviews.

I worked at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Geneva, Switzerland from 2008-2011 in project officer roles in the proposals, performance and strategic information teams. This work experience reinforced the challenges of providing global health financing and policy guidance that reflects the needs of intended beneficiaries; of fostering local participation and leadership in aid-donor relationships; and of accurately and meaningfully evaluating project results. I continue to explore these challenges in my current research.

I was postdoctoral researcher at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) from 2011-2013, in the interdisciplinary Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy (ATLANTIC-DIP) project team. This project investigated screening and lifestyle modification to reduce long-term diabetes risks among women with gestational diabetes in two randomised controlled trials.

In 2014, I moved to Norway to take up a position at NTNU as postdoctoral researcher and project coordinator for the first phase of the Addressing Domestic Violence in Antenatal Care Environments (ADVANCE) study, led by Professor Berit Schei. I am now co-leading the second phase of the ADVANCE project, funded by the Research Council of Norway from 2020 to 2025.

In addition to my research activities at NTNU, since 2016, I have been involved in the establishment and evolution of NTNU's master of science degree program in global health, sharing responsibilities for lecturing, input on student research protocols, grading assignments, developing examinations, course coordination, and supervising and examining thesis research projects. Since August 2021, I have been the scientific leader of the study program.

Research

Global Health Research Group

Publications

2024

Jiménez-Díaz, Gabriela; Aune, Anders; Elizarrarás-Rivas, Jesús; Gierman, Lobke M.; Keitsch, Martina Maria; Marcuzzi, Anna. (2024) Neonatal jaundice detection in low-resource Mexican settings: possibilities and barriers for innovation with mobile health. BMC Health Services Research
Academic article
Manandhar, Pratibha; Chalise, Pratibha; Rishal, Poonam; Campbell, Jacquelyn C; Henriksen, Lena; Infanti, Jennifer Jean. (2024) Developing and validating the Nepalese Abuse Assessment Screen (N-AAS) for identifying domestic violence among pregnant women in Nepal. PLOS ONE
Academic article

2013

Noctor, Eoin; Crowe, C.; Carmody, Louise A.; Avalos, Gloria M.; Kirwan, B.; Infanti, Jennifer. (2013) ATLANTIC DIP: simplifying the follow-up of women with previous gestational diabetes. European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE)
Academic article
Rohse, Melanie; Infanti, Jennifer; Sabnani, Nina; Nivargi, Mahesh. (2013) The Many Facets of Storytelling: Global Reflections on Narrative Complexity. At the Interface/Probing the Boundaries (ATI/PTB) (1)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Infanti, Jennifer; Dunne, Fidelma P.; O'Dea, Angela; Gillespie, Paddy; Gibson, Irene; Glynn, Liam G.. (2013) An evaluation of Croí MyAction community lifestyle modification programme compared to standard care to reduce progression to diabetes/pre-diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials
Academic article
Infanti, Jennifer; Sixsmith, Jane; Barry, Margaret M.; Núñez-Córdoba, Jorge M.; Oroviogoicoechea-Ortega, Cristina; Guillén-Grima, Francisco. (2013) A literature review on effective risk communication for the prevention and control of communicable diseases in Europe. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Report
Infanti, Jennifer. (2013) Telling Lives: Narrative Experiments in Research on Children's Experiences of Domestic Violence.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

2008

Infanti, Jennifer. (2008) Telling lives: Children's stories of hope, loss, love, and violence in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Massey University
Doctoral dissertation
Infanti, Jennifer. (2008) Children's Experiences of Family Violence in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Manifesto for Hope. Inter-Disciplinary Press
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Journal publications

Jiménez-Díaz, Gabriela; Aune, Anders; Elizarrarás-Rivas, Jesús; Gierman, Lobke M.; Keitsch, Martina Maria; Marcuzzi, Anna. (2024) Neonatal jaundice detection in low-resource Mexican settings: possibilities and barriers for innovation with mobile health. BMC Health Services Research
Academic article
Manandhar, Pratibha; Chalise, Pratibha; Rishal, Poonam; Campbell, Jacquelyn C; Henriksen, Lena; Infanti, Jennifer Jean. (2024) Developing and validating the Nepalese Abuse Assessment Screen (N-AAS) for identifying domestic violence among pregnant women in Nepal. PLOS ONE
Academic article
Reppen, Kristin; Henriksen, Lena; Schei, Berit; Magnussen, Elisabeth Balstad; Infanti, Jennifer Jean. (2023) Experiences of childbirth care among immigrant and non-immigrant women: a cross-sectional questionnaire study from a hospital in Norway. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Academic article
Mainali, Anustha; Infanti, Jennifer Jean; Thapa, Suraj Bahadur; Jacobsen, Geir Wenberg; Larose, Tricia Lynn Lois. (2023) Anxiety and depression in pregnant women who have experienced a previous perinatal loss: a case‑cohort study from Scandinavia. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Academic article
Pradhan, Namrata; Haugan, Gørill; Infanti, Jennifer Jean. (2023) Challenges and forms of coping and support in the daily lives of Nepali mothers of children with intellectual disabilities: A qualitative study. Disability and the Global South
Academic article
Murvartian, Lara; Saavedra-Macías, Francisco-Javier; Infanti, Jennifer Jean. (2023) Public stigma toward women victims of intimate partner violence: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior
Academic article
Chalise, Pratibha; Manandhar, Pratibha; Infanti, Jennifer Jean; Campbell, Jacquelyn C; Henriksen, Lena; Joshi, Sunil Kumar. (2023) Addressing Domestic Violence in Antenatal Care Environments in Nepal (ADVANCE) – study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating a video intervention on domestic violence among pregnant women. BMC Public Health
Academic article
Perera, Dinusha Chamanie; Munas, Muzrif; Swahnberg, Katarina; Wijewardene, Kumudu; Infanti, Jennifer. (2022) Obstetric Violence Is Prevalent in Routine Maternity Care: A Cross-Sectional Study of Obstetric Violence and Its Associated Factors among Pregnant Women in Sri Lanka’s Colombo District. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
Rishal, Poonam; Pun, Kunta Devi; Schei, Berit; Bhandari, Buna; Joshi, Sunil Kumar; Swahnberg, Katarina. (2020) Improving Safety Among Pregnant Women Reporting Domestic Violence in Nepal—A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Risberg Tjomsland, Tine; Infanti, Jennifer; Darj, Elisabeth. (2020) ‘Violence exists to show manhood’: Nepali men’s views on domestic violence–a qualitative study. Global health action
Academic article
Infanti, Jennifer; Zbikowski, Anke; Wijewardene, Kumudu; Swahnberg, Katarina. (2020) Feasibility of Participatory Theater Workshops to Increase Staff Awareness of and Readiness to Respond to Abuse in Health Care: A Qualitative Study of a Pilot Intervention Using Forum Play among Sri Lankan Health Care Providers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
Swahnberg, Katarina; Zbikowski, Anke; Wijewardene, Kumudu; Josephson, Agneta; Khadka, Prembarsha; Jeyakumaran, Dinesh. (2019) Can Forum Play Contribute to Counteracting Abuse in Health Care? A Pilot Intervention Study in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
Academic article
Adams, Emma A.; Darj, Elisabeth; Wijewardene, Kumudu; Infanti, Jennifer. (2019) Perceptions on the sexual harassment of female nurses in a state hospital in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study. Global health action
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Rishal, Poonam; Darj, Elisabeth; Infanti, Jennifer; Shrestha, Shrinkhala; Lukasse, Mirjam. (2019) Domestic violence and perinatal outcomes – a prospective cohort study from Nepal. BMC Public Health
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Rishal, Poonam; Infanti, Jennifer; Bjørngaard, Johan Håkon; Koju, Rajendra; Schei, Berit. (2018) Exposure to domestic violence influences pregnant women's preparedness for childbirth in Nepal: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE
Academic article
Perera, Dinusha Chamanie; Lund, Ragnhild; Swahnberg, Katarina; Schei, Berit; Infanti, Jennifer. (2018) ‘When helpers hurt’: Women’s and midwives’ stories of obstetric violence in state health care institutions, Colombo district, Sri Lanka. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Academic article
Columbini, Manuela; H Mayhew, Susannah; Lund, Ragnhild; Singh, Navpreet; Swahnberg, Katarina; Infanti, Jennifer. (2018) Factors shaping political priorities for violence against women-mitigation policies in Sri Lanka. BMC International Health and Human Rights
Academic article
Harstad, Ingunn; Yogal, Chandra Mandil; Infanti, Jennifer. (2017) How are private medical colleges collaborating with the National TB Control Programme in Nepal, a qualitative study. Health and Primary Care (HPC)
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Infanti, Jennifer; Koju, Rajendra; Schei, Berit; Darj, Elisabeth. (2016) Community perceptions on domestic violence against pregnant women in Nepal: a qualitative study. Global health action
Academic article
Infanti, Jennifer; Lund, Ragnhild; Muzrif, Munas M; Schei, Berit; Wijewardena, Kumudu. (2015) Addressing domestic violence through antenatal care in Sri Lanka's plantation estates: Contributions of public health midwives. Social Science and Medicine
Academic article
Darj, Elisabeth; Infanti, Jennifer; Maina Ahlberg, Beth; Okumu, Jecinta. (2015) "The fairer the better?" Use of potentially toxic skin bleaching products. African Health Sciences
Academic article
O'Dea, Angela; Infanti, Jennifer; Gillespie, Paddy; Tummon, Olga; Fanous, Samuel; Glynn, Liam G.. (2014) Screening uptake rates and the clinical and cost effectiveness of screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in primary versus secondary care: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials
Academic article
Infanti, Jennifer; O'Dea, Angela; Gibson, Irene; McGuire, Brian E.; Newell, John; Glynn, Liam G.. (2014) Reasons for participation and non-participation in a diabetes prevention trial among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus. BMC Medical Research Methodology
Academic article
Noctor, Eoin; Crowe, C.; Carmody, Louise A.; Avalos, Gloria M.; Kirwan, B.; Infanti, Jennifer. (2013) ATLANTIC DIP: simplifying the follow-up of women with previous gestational diabetes. European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE)
Academic article
Infanti, Jennifer; Dunne, Fidelma P.; O'Dea, Angela; Gillespie, Paddy; Gibson, Irene; Glynn, Liam G.. (2013) An evaluation of Croí MyAction community lifestyle modification programme compared to standard care to reduce progression to diabetes/pre-diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials
Academic article

Books

Rohse, Melanie; Infanti, Jennifer; Sabnani, Nina; Nivargi, Mahesh. (2013) The Many Facets of Storytelling: Global Reflections on Narrative Complexity. At the Interface/Probing the Boundaries (ATI/PTB) (1)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings

Part of book/report

Infanti, Jennifer. (2013) Telling Lives: Narrative Experiments in Research on Children's Experiences of Domestic Violence.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Infanti, Jennifer. (2008) Children's Experiences of Family Violence in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Manifesto for Hope. Inter-Disciplinary Press
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper

Report

Infanti, Jennifer; Sixsmith, Jane; Barry, Margaret M.; Núñez-Córdoba, Jorge M.; Oroviogoicoechea-Ortega, Cristina; Guillén-Grima, Francisco. (2013) A literature review on effective risk communication for the prevention and control of communicable diseases in Europe. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
Report
Infanti, Jennifer. (2008) Telling lives: Children's stories of hope, loss, love, and violence in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Massey University
Doctoral dissertation

INFORMASJONSMATR

Infanti, Jennifer. (2014) Improving antenatal care for pregnant women experiencing domestic violence [blog].
Website (informational material)
Infanti, Jennifer. (2014) Six weeks of data collection in Sri Lanka’s hill country tea plantations [blog].
Website (informational material)
Infanti, Jennifer. (2014) Training in qualitative research methods in Nepal [blog].
Website (informational material)

Teaching

Courses

Outreach

2018

Poster

Infanti, Jennifer; Lund, Ragnhild; Chamanie, Dinusha P.; Swahnberg, Katarina; Schei, Berit. (2018) When helpers hurt: Obstetric violence in public health facilities, Colombo district, Sri Lanka. ICSoR The 6th International Conference on the Survivors of Rape , Helsinki 2018-12-10 - 2018-12-12
Poster

Darj, Elisabeth; Devi Pun, Kunta; Shrestha, Shrinkhala; Infanti, Jennifer. (2018) Perceptions on domestic violence among community members in Dhulikhel, Nepal. Helsinki University International Conference on the Survivors of Rape 2018 , Helsinki 2018-12-10 - 2018-12-12

2017

Poster

Pun, Kunta Devi; Rishal, Poonam; Bjørngaard, Johan Håkon; Infanti, Jennifer; Schei, Berit; Darj, Elisabeth. (2017) Domestic violence and birth preparedness among pregnant Nepalease women. GLOBVAC PhD conference , Stiklestad 2017-03-16 - 2017-03-17

2015

Academic lecture

Chamanie, Dinusha P.; Wijewardene, Kumudu; Lund, Ragnhild; Infanti, Jennifer; Schei, Berit. (2015) Mind the gap: Obstetric violence in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Sexual Violence Research Initiative, MRC South Africa SVRI Forum 2015: Innovation and intersections , Stellenbosch 2015-09-14 - 2015-09-17
Poster

Darj, Elisabeth; Okumu, Jecinta; Infanti, Jennifer; Maina Ahlberg, Beth. (2015) Use of potentially toxic skinbleaching products among pregnant women in Sweden. The Research Council of Norway 9th Conference on Global Health and Vaccination Research (GLOBVAC) , Oslo 2015-03-17 - 2015-03-18
Academic lecture

Infanti, Jennifer. (2015) The Emotional Dynamics of Expectations and Promises in Global Health Research. Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research 6th Annual Meeting of Medical Anthropology Young Scholars (MAYS) , Amsterdam 2015-06-11 - 2015-06-12
Poster

Chamanie, Dinusha P.; Lund, Ragnhild; Infanti, Jennifer. (2015) Mind the gap: Abuse of women in obstetric care in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. The Research Council of Norway 9th Conference on Global Health and Vaccination Research (GLOBVAC) , Oslo 2015-03-17 - 2015-03-18
Poster

Devi Pun, Kunta; Shrestha, Shrinkhala; Infanti, Jennifer; Darj, Elisabeth. (2015) Perceptions on domestic violence among community members in Dhulikhel, Nepal. The Research Council of Norway 9th Conference on Global Health and Vaccination Research (GLOBVAC) , Oslo 2015-03-17 - 2015-03-18

2014

Lecture

Infanti, Jennifer. (2014) Chair and discussant for session on 'Violence Against Women' at Global Health Day (21 October 2014). Faculty of Medicine, NTNU Global Health Day , Trondheim 2014-10-21 - 2014-10-21
Academic lecture

Infanti, Jennifer. (2014) Short presentation on behalf of the research group: "Kvinnehelse og reproduksjon, Institutt for samfunnsmedisin". Institutt for samfunnsmedisin, NTNU Annual year-end department seminar (fagdag) , Trondheim 2014-12-12 - 2014-12-12
Academic lecture

Infanti, Jennifer. (2014) Cultural politics of antenatal care delivery for women experiencing domestic violence in the plantation sector of Badulla district, Sri Lanka. Department of Social Anthropology, NTNU Second ISP-workshop: The Anthropology of Uncertainty , Røros: Røros Hotell 2014-10-30 - 2014-10-31

Språkvelger

Jennifer J. Infanti