Larissa Jennings
Mayo-Wilson, PhD MHS
I am an Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Health Behavior and Department of Maternal and Child Health at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. I am a sexual and reproductive health behavioral scientist with methodological skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, and qualitative science.
My research focuses on how to improve sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including HIV, in adolescents and young adults with low economic status and unmet SRH needs. I do this through three main areas of research.
One, I use quantitative randomized behavioral clinical trials to design and evaluate economic and environmental interventions to improve SRH outcomes, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). My work investigates how to relieve poverty in urban and rural areas, such that people can achieve their health-related goals.This includes interventions involving employment, entrepreneurship, income, grants, savings, vouchers, or financial incentives. Through intervention effectiveness research, I also study the mechanisms that link these factors to beneficial or adverse SRH/HIV outcomes.
Second, my research studies how economic and environmental factors - such as economic violence, paid leave policies, or built and virtual health care settings - affect SRH/HIV care-seeking and related outcomes. I am also interested in how undergoing SRH care therapies impacts economic outcomes for women and children. I examine these questions using quantitative data from nationally-representative population surveys, qualitative interviews, and social media data.
Third, my research examines how self-care approaches enhance or minimize access to SRH/HIV services in communities with high poverty rates and low access to care. I am particularly interested in STI self-testing, fertility self-injection, pregnancy monitoring, and HIV prophylactic and therapeutic self-medication (PrEP/ART). As part of this work, I am a faculty fellow at the UNC Carolina Population Center, a research fellow at the UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the UNC School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. I am also a member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) and the American Public Health Association (APHA).
Research
Microenterprise and behavioral economics intervention for sexual and biomedical HIV prevention in young adults (EMERGE Study) (Role: PI, NIH R01)
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an employment-focused intervention with HIV behavioral nudges on economic stability, protected sex, and PrEP initiation among U.S. young adults experiencing homelessness and economic hardship. This study uses a mixed-methods randomized clinical trial design.
Clinical and community care experiences (CCCE Study) of women undergoing in vitro fertilization in the U.S. (Role: PI, UNC)
Objective: To examine women’s perceptions of IVF care experiences in fertility clinics and broader household, workplace, and community settings. This study assesses economic, mental, and physical health experiences uses a qualitative longitudinal design.
Work, finances, and self-management of sexual and reproductive health in U.S. girls and women (WORK Study) (Role: PI, UNC)
Objective: To estimate differences in uptake of self-care behaviors to prevent STI or to achieve or prevent pregnancy in U.S. girls and women in adolescent, young, and midlife stages who are experiencing enabling versus non-enabling work environments. This study uses nationally-representative population data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCW) and the CDC’s National Survey of Family Growth Study (NSFG).
Perceived unmet healthcare need in social media comments (PRICE Study): a feasibility trial among followers of health influencers who are living with HIV (Role: PI, UNC)
Objective: To assess the feasibility of using Facebook and Instagram data to quantify and qualify unmet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs, and to explore how users describe related economic and mental health effects of unmet SRH need. This study conducts statistical and thematic analyses of social media comments.
Work and wellness for rural and underserved U.S. families (WELLFUL Study) (Role: PI, UNC)
Objective: To leverage community engagement partnerships in understanding barriers to healthcare seeking for mental health, drug addiction and recovery health, and sexual and reproductive health in precariously-employed U.S. adults who are living in rural and underserved counties in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Creating access to resources and economic support (CARES) to mitigate pandemic-related psychological distress (Role: Co-I, NIH R01)
Objective: To assess the efficacy of a peer-mentoring and micro-grant intervention in reducing economic and mental health harms among pandemic-affected people in the U.S. This study uses a mixed-methods randomized clinical trial design. Currently conducting post-study analyses.
Adolescent medicine trials network (ATN) for HIV and AIDS interventions: senior leadership group (SLG) (Role: Co-I, NIH)
Objective: To characterize the role of institutions, organizations, and policies (IOP) in reducing new HIV infections and in improving the HIV care continuum in U.S. adolescents and young adults. IOP-SLG uses ATN clinical trial data in several U.S. metropolitan areas.
Incentives and reminders to improve long-term medication adherence (INMIND Study) (Role: Co-I, NIH R01)
Objective: To identify optimal sequencing from low-resource messages to higher-resource prizes to successfully routinize antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieve viral suppression in Uganda adults. This study uses a mixed-methods randomized clinical trial design.
Strengthening community responses to economic vulnerability and HIV inequities (SeCuRE) (Role: Co-PI, NIH, R34)
Objective: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a micro-economic intervention to support U.S. women with low economic status to increase employment acquisition and reduce HIV risk. This study uses a feasibility randomized trial design. Currently conducting post-study analyses.
Combined HIV services and microenterprise for equitable and sustained recovery (CHIMES) intervention (Role: Co-I, Gilead)
Objective: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a combined intervention to achieve remission among HIV-infected individuals receiving substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in Tanzania. This study uses a feasibility randomized trial design.
Key Words
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Economic Justice
Economic and Environmental Interventions
Maternal Health
HIV and Other STIs
Fertility Care
Community Engagement
Randomized Behavioral Clinical Trials
Qualitative Research
Self-Care Interventions
Behavioral Economics
Adolescents and Young Adults
Populations Experiencing Poverty and Low Access to Care
Advising
I advise PhD and MPH students in the UNC Department of Health Behavior and the UNC Department of Maternal and Child Health. I also advise pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellows at the UNC Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Students and fellows who are interested in addressing economic and environmental obstacles to health are welcome to note my name in their program application.
Service
I welcome invitations for service opportunities within organizations committed to health and economic justice locally and abroad.
Current
Advisor, National Working Positive Coalition (NWPC)
Advisor, Guaranteed Income & Health Consortium (GIHC)
Associate Editor, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Advisor, UNC Gillings Research Strategic Plan Implementation Committee
Former
Chair, HIV/AIDS Research Program Review Panel: Economic Justice Interventions to Combat HIV (CHRP)
Board Member, Nursing Network on Violence Against Women (NNVAWI)
Board Member, One House at a Time (OHAAT)
Publications
Full List of Publications on PubMed
N = 92 peer-reviewed publications
- 22% clinical trials
- 39% observational studies
- 23% qualitative research
- 16% editorials and reviews
n = 30 first-author publications
n = 40 publications with students
400+ citations per Google Scholar
