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, arts-based 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).

2019-2022 Principal Investigator of the OPTIMISE study - Optimising pregnancy and childbirth care for immigrant women in Central Norway

Awarded 3-years of 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), 1 (co-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.

Publications

2023

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. volum 23 (1).
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. volum 23 (394).
Academic article

2022

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. volum 19 (16).
Academic article

2020

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. volum 17 (20).
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. volum 13 (1).
Academic article
Rishal, Poonam; Pun, Kunta Devi; Schei, Berit; Bhandari, Buna; Joshi, Sunil Kumar; Swahnberg, Katarina; Infanti, Jennifer; Lukasse, Mirjam. (2020) Improving Safety Among Pregnant Women Reporting Domestic Violence in Nepal—A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. volum 17 (7).
Academic article

2019

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. volum 12 (1).
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Rishal, Poonam; Darj, Elisabeth; Infanti, Jennifer; Shrestha, Shrinkhala; Lukasse, Mirjam; Schei, Berit. (2019) Domestic violence and perinatal outcomes – a prospective cohort study from Nepal. BMC Public Health. volum 19.
Academic article
Swahnberg, Katarina; Zbikowski, Anke; Wijewardene, Kumudu; Josephson, Agneta; Khadka, Prembarsha; Jeyakumaran, Dinesh; Mambulage, Udari; Infanti, Jennifer. (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. volum 16 (9).
Academic article

2018

Columbini, Manuela; H Mayhew, Susannah; Lund, Ragnhild; Singh, Navpreet; Swahnberg, Katarina; Infanti, Jennifer; Schei, Berit; Wijewardene, Kumudu. (2018) Factors shaping political priorities for violence against women-mitigation policies in Sri Lanka. BMC International Health and Human Rights. volum 18 (22).
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. volum 18 (1).
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Rishal, Poonam; Infanti, Jennifer; Bjørngaard, Johan Håkon; Koju, Rajendra; Schei, Berit; Darj, Elisabeth. (2018) Exposure to domestic violence influences pregnant women's preparedness for childbirth in Nepal: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE. volum 13:e0200234 (7).
Academic article

2017

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). volum 1 (4).
Academic article

2016

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. volum 9 (1).
Academic article

2015

Darj, Elisabeth; Infanti, Jennifer; Maina Ahlberg, Beth; Okumu, Jecinta. (2015) "The fairer the better?" Use of potentially toxic skin bleaching products. African Health Sciences. volum 15 (4).
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. volum 145.
Academic article

2014

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)
Infanti, Jennifer; O'Dea, Angela; Gibson, Irene; McGuire, Brian E.; Newell, John; Glynn, Liam G.; O'Neill, Ciaran; Connolly, Susan B.; Dunne, Fidelma P.. (2014) Reasons for participation and non-participation in a diabetes prevention trial among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus. BMC Medical Research Methodology. volum 14 (13).
Academic article
O'Dea, Angela; Infanti, Jennifer; Gillespie, Paddy; Tummon, Olga; Fanous, Samuel; Glynn, Liam G.; McGuire, Brian E.; Newell, John; Dunne, Fidelma P.. (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. volum 15 (27).
Academic article

2013

Infanti, Jennifer. (2013) Telling Lives: Narrative Experiments in Research on Children's Experiences of Domestic Violence. The Many Facets of Storytelling: Global Reflections on Narrative Complexity.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Infanti, Jennifer; Dunne, Fidelma P.; O'Dea, Angela; Gillespie, Paddy; Gibson, Irene; Glynn, Liam G.; Noctor, Eoin; Newell, John; McGuire, Brian E.. (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. volum 14 (121).
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. 2013. ISBN 978-92-9193-395-2.
Report
Noctor, Eoin; Crowe, C.; Carmody, Louise A.; Avalos, Gloria M.; Kirwan, B.; Infanti, Jennifer; O'Dea, Angela; Gillespie, Paddy; Newell, John; O'Shea, Paula M.; Dunne, Fidelma P.. (2013) ATLANTIC DIP: simplifying the follow-up of women with previous gestational diabetes. European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE). volum 169 (5).
Academic article
Rohse, Melanie; Infanti, Jennifer; Sabnani, Nina; Nivargi, Mahesh. (2013) The Many Facets of Storytelling: Global Reflections on Narrative Complexity. 2013. ISBN 978-1-84888-166-2. At the Interface/Probing the Boundaries (1).
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings

2008

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

Journal publications

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. volum 23 (1).
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. volum 23 (394).
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. volum 19 (16).
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. volum 17 (20).
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. volum 13 (1).
Academic article
Rishal, Poonam; Pun, Kunta Devi; Schei, Berit; Bhandari, Buna; Joshi, Sunil Kumar; Swahnberg, Katarina; Infanti, Jennifer; Lukasse, Mirjam. (2020) Improving Safety Among Pregnant Women Reporting Domestic Violence in Nepal—A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. volum 17 (7).
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. volum 12 (1).
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Rishal, Poonam; Darj, Elisabeth; Infanti, Jennifer; Shrestha, Shrinkhala; Lukasse, Mirjam; Schei, Berit. (2019) Domestic violence and perinatal outcomes – a prospective cohort study from Nepal. BMC Public Health. volum 19.
Academic article
Swahnberg, Katarina; Zbikowski, Anke; Wijewardene, Kumudu; Josephson, Agneta; Khadka, Prembarsha; Jeyakumaran, Dinesh; Mambulage, Udari; Infanti, Jennifer. (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. volum 16 (9).
Academic article
Columbini, Manuela; H Mayhew, Susannah; Lund, Ragnhild; Singh, Navpreet; Swahnberg, Katarina; Infanti, Jennifer; Schei, Berit; Wijewardene, Kumudu. (2018) Factors shaping political priorities for violence against women-mitigation policies in Sri Lanka. BMC International Health and Human Rights. volum 18 (22).
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. volum 18 (1).
Academic article
Pun, Kunta Devi; Rishal, Poonam; Infanti, Jennifer; Bjørngaard, Johan Håkon; Koju, Rajendra; Schei, Berit; Darj, Elisabeth. (2018) Exposure to domestic violence influences pregnant women's preparedness for childbirth in Nepal: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE. volum 13:e0200234 (7).
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). volum 1 (4).
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. volum 9 (1).
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. volum 15 (4).
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. volum 145.
Academic article
Infanti, Jennifer; O'Dea, Angela; Gibson, Irene; McGuire, Brian E.; Newell, John; Glynn, Liam G.; O'Neill, Ciaran; Connolly, Susan B.; Dunne, Fidelma P.. (2014) Reasons for participation and non-participation in a diabetes prevention trial among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus. BMC Medical Research Methodology. volum 14 (13).
Academic article
O'Dea, Angela; Infanti, Jennifer; Gillespie, Paddy; Tummon, Olga; Fanous, Samuel; Glynn, Liam G.; McGuire, Brian E.; Newell, John; Dunne, Fidelma P.. (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. volum 15 (27).
Academic article
Infanti, Jennifer; Dunne, Fidelma P.; O'Dea, Angela; Gillespie, Paddy; Gibson, Irene; Glynn, Liam G.; Noctor, Eoin; Newell, John; McGuire, Brian E.. (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. volum 14 (121).
Academic article
Noctor, Eoin; Crowe, C.; Carmody, Louise A.; Avalos, Gloria M.; Kirwan, B.; Infanti, Jennifer; O'Dea, Angela; Gillespie, Paddy; Newell, John; O'Shea, Paula M.; Dunne, Fidelma P.. (2013) ATLANTIC DIP: simplifying the follow-up of women with previous gestational diabetes. European Journal of Endocrinology (EJE). volum 169 (5).
Academic article

Books

Rohse, Melanie; Infanti, Jennifer; Sabnani, Nina; Nivargi, Mahesh. (2013) The Many Facets of Storytelling: Global Reflections on Narrative Complexity. 2013. ISBN 978-1-84888-166-2. At the Interface/Probing the Boundaries (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. The Many Facets of Storytelling: Global Reflections on Narrative Complexity.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Infanti, Jennifer. (2008) Children's Experiences of Family Violence in Aotearoa/New Zealand: A Manifesto for Hope. Hope: Probing the Boundaries.
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. 2013. ISBN 978-92-9193-395-2.
Report
Infanti, Jennifer. (2008) Telling lives: Children's stories of hope, loss, love, and violence in Aotearoa/New Zealand. 2008.
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

Media

2018

Poster

Darj, Elisabeth; Devi Pun, Kunta; Shrestha, Shrinkhala; Infanti, Jennifer. (2018) Perceptions on domestic violence among community members in Dhulikhel, Nepal. International Conference on the Survivors of Rape 2018 . Helsinki University; Helsinki. 2018-12-10 - 2018-12-12.
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. The 6th International Conference on the Survivors of Rape . ICSoR; 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. PhD conference . GLOBVAC; Stiklestad. 2017-03-16 - 2017-03-17.

2015

Poster

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

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

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

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

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

2014

Lecture

Infanti, Jennifer. (2014) Chair and discussant for session on 'Violence Against Women' at Global Health Day (21 October 2014). Global Health Day . Faculty of Medicine, NTNU; Trondheim. 2014-10-21 - 2014-10-21.
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. Second ISP-workshop: The Anthropology of Uncertainty . Department of Social Anthropology, NTNU; Røros: Røros Hotell. 2014-10-30 - 2014-10-31.
Academic lecture

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

Språkvelger

Jennifer J. Infanti