Jennifer A Smit
Biographic Data
| ID | 331963 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jennifer A Smit |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jennifer A |
| FAMILY NAME | Smit |
| SIGNATURE | SMIT J A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of the Witwatersrand |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 24 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 19 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 24 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
A qualitative exploration of sexually transmitted infection (STI) partner notification preferences and practices among women planning for pregnancy and offered HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in Durban, …
We found a lack of partner concurrency and asymptomatic infection to influence STI partner notification with partner notification affecting pregnancy planning and condom use. Since women report having high STI testing and care engagement, they bear a high burden of partner notification and potential subsequent blame and often appreciated provider assistance. Interventions are needed to engage men in STI testing and care and to mitigate the potent…
Streamlining Stigma Measurement
The HIV Stigma Scale (HSS) is a 40-item psychometrically sound measure capturing four domains of perceived stigma. A 25-item version has been validated in South India. However, the HSS has not been validated among pregnant women with HIV (WWH) in South Africa, a population facing significant stigma. Moreover, they could benefit from the abridged measure to be more efficiently connected to related interventions. Analyzing data from a sample of pre…
Uptake and Persistence of Safer Conception Strategies Among South African Women Planning for Pregnancy
Safer conception strategies can minimize HIV acquisition during periconception periods among women living in HIV-endemic areas. We examined uptake and predictors of persistent use of the same safer conception strategy among a cohort of HIV-uninfected South African women ages 18-35 years planning for pregnancy with a partner living with HIV or of unknown HIV-serostatus. The safer conception strategies we evaluated included oral PrEP, condomless se…
Influences on PrEP Uptake and Adherence Among South African Women During Periconception and Pregnancy
Overcoming Ethical Challenges to Engaging Men Who Have Sex with Women in HIV Research
Acceptability of an Intervention to Promote Viral Suppression and Serostatus Disclosure for Men Living with HIV in South Africa
Men living with HIV (MLWH) often have reproductive goals that can increase HIV-transmission risks to their pregnancy partners. We developed a safer conception intervention for MLWH in South Africa employing cognitive behavioral skills to promote serostatus disclosure, ART uptake, and viral suppression. MLWH were recruited from an HIV clinic near Durban, South Africa, and encouraged to include partners in follow-up visits. Exit in-depth interviews…
Trajectories of initiation for the heroin-based drug whoonga – qualitative evidence from South Africa
Breastfeeding Practices Among Women Living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Sexual Relationship Power and Periconception HIV-Risk Behavior Among HIV-Infected Men in Serodifferent Relationships
Sexual Self-Efficacy and Gender
Sexual self-efficacy (SSE), one's perceived control of or confidence in the ability to perform a given sexual outcome, predicts sexual behavior; however, important questions remain regarding whether gender modifies observed associations. In a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed HIV-prevention literature focusing on youth (ages 10 to 25) in sub-Saharan Africa, we measured and assessed the influence of SSE on condom use and sexual refusal, overal…
HIV Prevention Among Young Women in South Africa
Developing a Safer Conception Intervention for Men Living with HIV in South Africa
Within sexual partnerships, men make many decisions about sexual behavior, reproductive goals, and HIV prevention. There are increasing calls to involve men in reproductive health and HIV prevention. This paper describes the process of creating and evaluating the acceptability of a safer conception intervention for men living with HIV who want to have children with partners at risk for acquiring HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Based on format…
Teamwork in Qualitative Research
Multicountry teamwork in qualitative research is receiving increased recognition in an attempt to address global health problems. We report our experience of teamwork implementing a multicountry study (Zambia, South Africa, and Kenya), employing qualitative research to gain insight into met needs of contraception. Using this study example, we demonstrate the innovative development of a multicountry, south-south relationship (i.e., collaboration a…
Inkwari
South Africans with recent pregnancy rarely know partner’s HIV serostatus
In an HIV-endemic setting, awareness of partner HIV serostatus is rare. Innovative strategies to increase HIV testing and disclosure are required to facilitate HIV prevention interventions for serodiscordant couples
Promoting Female Condom Use Among Female University Students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Whoonga
It's a Different Condom, Let's See How It Works”
Although male partner cooperation is often essential for successful use of the female condom, only a few studies have directly assessed men's experiences of using the device. We examined barriers to and facilitators of female condom use via qualitative in-depth interviews with 38 young men (18 to 28 years) in South Africa whose partners, all university students, were enrolled in a female condom intervention trial. In all, 21 men used the female c…
“There's evidence that this really works and anything that works is good”
Three clinical trials have demonstrated the partial efficacy (40-60%) of surgically conducted medical male circumcision (MMC) in preventing HIV transmission to circumcised men. This research formed part of a larger study exploring the importance of integration of sexual and reproductive health with HIV services. The objective was to elicit key informant views on the introduction of MMC for HIV prevention in South Africa. Twenty-one key informants…
A conceptual framework for understanding HIV risk behavior in the context of supporting fertility goals among HIV-serodiscordant couples
Integrated reproductive health services for people living with HIV must address their fertility intentions. For HIV-serodiscordant couples who want to conceive, attempted conception confers a substantial risk of HIV transmission to the uninfected partner. Behavioral and pharmacologic strategies may reduce HIV transmission risk among HIV-serodiscordant couples who seek to conceive. In order to develop effective pharmaco-behavioral programs, it is …
Reproductive Decision-Making and Periconception Practices Among HIV-Positive Men and Women Attending HIV Services in Durban, South Africa
Understanding reproductive decisions and periconception behavior among HIV-discordant couples is important for designing risk reduction interventions for couples who choose to conceive. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore reproductive decision-making and periconception practices among HIV-positive women with recent pregnancy (n = 30), and HIV-positive men (n = 20), all reporting partners of negative or unknown HIV-status, and attending …
Predictors of vaginal practices for sex and hygiene in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Vaginal practices in sub-Saharan Africa may increase HIV transmission and have important implications for development of microbicides and future HIV prevention technologies. It remains unclear which women undertake vaginal practices and what factors predict prevalence, practice type and choice of products. Using cross-sectional data from mixed research methods, we identify factors associated with vaginal practices among women in KwaZulu-Natal, So…
In search of sexual pleasure and fidelity
Vaginal practices, such as intra-vaginal cleansing, drying and tightening, are suspected of placing women at higher risk of acquiring HIV and STIs. Yet, there is limited understanding of what these practices entail, what motivates women to undertake them and what their socio-cultural and historical meanings are. This paper explores the range of vaginal practices used by women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and locates these within the context of …
TheMpondombiliProject
Unintended pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are major threats to the health of South African youth. Gendered social norms make it difficult for young women to negotiate safer sex, and sexual coercion and violence are prevalent. Sexual activity among adolescents is influenced strongly by conservative social norms, which favour abstinence. In reality, most young people are sexually active by the end of the teen years. Girls’…
Teamwork in Qualitative Research
Multicountry teamwork in qualitative research is receiving increased recognition in an attempt to address global health problems. We report our experience of teamwork implementing a multicountry study (Zambia, South Africa, and Kenya), employing qualitative research to gain insight into met needs of contraception. Using this study example, we demonstrate the innovative development of a multicountry, south-south relationship (i.e., collaboration a…
TheMpondombiliProject
Unintended pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are major threats to the health of South African youth. Gendered social norms make it difficult for young women to negotiate safer sex, and sexual coercion and violence are prevalent. Sexual activity among adolescents is influenced strongly by conservative social norms, which favour abstinence. In reality, most young people are sexually active by the end of the teen years. Girls’…
TheMpondombiliProject
Unintended pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are major threats to the health of South African youth. Gendered social norms make it difficult for young women to negotiate safer sex, and sexual coercion and violence are prevalent. Sexual activity among adolescents is influenced strongly by conservative social norms, which favour abstinence. In reality, most young people are sexually active by the end of the teen years. Girls’…
In search of sexual pleasure and fidelity
Vaginal practices, such as intra-vaginal cleansing, drying and tightening, are suspected of placing women at higher risk of acquiring HIV and STIs. Yet, there is limited understanding of what these practices entail, what motivates women to undertake them and what their socio-cultural and historical meanings are. This paper explores the range of vaginal practices used by women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and locates these within the context of …
Reproductive Decision-Making and Periconception Practices Among HIV-Positive Men and Women Attending HIV Services in Durban, South Africa
Understanding reproductive decisions and periconception behavior among HIV-discordant couples is important for designing risk reduction interventions for couples who choose to conceive. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore reproductive decision-making and periconception practices among HIV-positive women with recent pregnancy (n = 30), and HIV-positive men (n = 20), all reporting partners of negative or unknown HIV-status, and attending …
Predictors of vaginal practices for sex and hygiene in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Vaginal practices in sub-Saharan Africa may increase HIV transmission and have important implications for development of microbicides and future HIV prevention technologies. It remains unclear which women undertake vaginal practices and what factors predict prevalence, practice type and choice of products. Using cross-sectional data from mixed research methods, we identify factors associated with vaginal practices among women in KwaZulu-Natal, So…
“There's evidence that this really works and anything that works is good”
Three clinical trials have demonstrated the partial efficacy (40-60%) of surgically conducted medical male circumcision (MMC) in preventing HIV transmission to circumcised men. This research formed part of a larger study exploring the importance of integration of sexual and reproductive health with HIV services. The objective was to elicit key informant views on the introduction of MMC for HIV prevention in South Africa. Twenty-one key informants…
A conceptual framework for understanding HIV risk behavior in the context of supporting fertility goals among HIV-serodiscordant couples
Integrated reproductive health services for people living with HIV must address their fertility intentions. For HIV-serodiscordant couples who want to conceive, attempted conception confers a substantial risk of HIV transmission to the uninfected partner. Behavioral and pharmacologic strategies may reduce HIV transmission risk among HIV-serodiscordant couples who seek to conceive. In order to develop effective pharmaco-behavioral programs, it is …
Whoonga
It's a Different Condom, Let's See How It Works”
Although male partner cooperation is often essential for successful use of the female condom, only a few studies have directly assessed men's experiences of using the device. We examined barriers to and facilitators of female condom use via qualitative in-depth interviews with 38 young men (18 to 28 years) in South Africa whose partners, all university students, were enrolled in a female condom intervention trial. In all, 21 men used the female c…
South Africans with recent pregnancy rarely know partner’s HIV serostatus
In an HIV-endemic setting, awareness of partner HIV serostatus is rare. Innovative strategies to increase HIV testing and disclosure are required to facilitate HIV prevention interventions for serodiscordant couples
Promoting Female Condom Use Among Female University Students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Inkwari
Developing a Safer Conception Intervention for Men Living with HIV in South Africa
Within sexual partnerships, men make many decisions about sexual behavior, reproductive goals, and HIV prevention. There are increasing calls to involve men in reproductive health and HIV prevention. This paper describes the process of creating and evaluating the acceptability of a safer conception intervention for men living with HIV who want to have children with partners at risk for acquiring HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Based on format…
Teamwork in Qualitative Research
Multicountry teamwork in qualitative research is receiving increased recognition in an attempt to address global health problems. We report our experience of teamwork implementing a multicountry study (Zambia, South Africa, and Kenya), employing qualitative research to gain insight into met needs of contraception. Using this study example, we demonstrate the innovative development of a multicountry, south-south relationship (i.e., collaboration a…
Sexual Self-Efficacy and Gender
Sexual self-efficacy (SSE), one's perceived control of or confidence in the ability to perform a given sexual outcome, predicts sexual behavior; however, important questions remain regarding whether gender modifies observed associations. In a comprehensive review of peer-reviewed HIV-prevention literature focusing on youth (ages 10 to 25) in sub-Saharan Africa, we measured and assessed the influence of SSE on condom use and sexual refusal, overal…
HIV Prevention Among Young Women in South Africa
Breastfeeding Practices Among Women Living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Sexual Relationship Power and Periconception HIV-Risk Behavior Among HIV-Infected Men in Serodifferent Relationships
Trajectories of initiation for the heroin-based drug whoonga – qualitative evidence from South Africa
Overcoming Ethical Challenges to Engaging Men Who Have Sex with Women in HIV Research
Acceptability of an Intervention to Promote Viral Suppression and Serostatus Disclosure for Men Living with HIV in South Africa
Men living with HIV (MLWH) often have reproductive goals that can increase HIV-transmission risks to their pregnancy partners. We developed a safer conception intervention for MLWH in South Africa employing cognitive behavioral skills to promote serostatus disclosure, ART uptake, and viral suppression. MLWH were recruited from an HIV clinic near Durban, South Africa, and encouraged to include partners in follow-up visits. Exit in-depth interviews…
Influences on PrEP Uptake and Adherence Among South African Women During Periconception and Pregnancy
Uptake and Persistence of Safer Conception Strategies Among South African Women Planning for Pregnancy
Safer conception strategies can minimize HIV acquisition during periconception periods among women living in HIV-endemic areas. We examined uptake and predictors of persistent use of the same safer conception strategy among a cohort of HIV-uninfected South African women ages 18-35 years planning for pregnancy with a partner living with HIV or of unknown HIV-serostatus. The safer conception strategies we evaluated included oral PrEP, condomless se…
A qualitative exploration of sexually transmitted infection (STI) partner notification preferences and practices among women planning for pregnancy and offered HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in Durban, …
We found a lack of partner concurrency and asymptomatic infection to influence STI partner notification with partner notification affecting pregnancy planning and condom use. Since women report having high STI testing and care engagement, they bear a high burden of partner notification and potential subsequent blame and often appreciated provider assistance. Interventions are needed to engage men in STI testing and care and to mitigate the potent…
Streamlining Stigma Measurement
The HIV Stigma Scale (HSS) is a 40-item psychometrically sound measure capturing four domains of perceived stigma. A 25-item version has been validated in South India. However, the HSS has not been validated among pregnant women with HIV (WWH) in South Africa, a population facing significant stigma. Moreover, they could benefit from the abridged measure to be more efficiently connected to related interventions. Analyzing data from a sample of pre…
Medicine (22 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (20 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (20 works) · Family medicine (19 works) · Nursing (16 works) · Psychology (14 works) · Environmental health (13 works) · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV (13 works) · Public health (13 works) · Demography (10 works)