About

Dr. Jennifer Pellowski is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Brown University and a Senior Scientist/Grant Writer at Hartford Healthcare in Connecticut. She earned her PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Connecticut in 2015 and completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in Child/Adolescent Biobehavioral HIV research at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital. She has also undergone training in implementation science through the NIH TIDIRH program. Her research focuses on the implementation of interventions, treatments, and technologies aimed at improving women's, parental, and child health across the lifespan, with active projects both domestically and internationally, particularly in South Africa. Dr. Pellowski is passionate about mentorship, capacity-building, and training South African researchers, and she actively mentors students and early career faculty members.

Research topics

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Political Science
• Computer Science
• Management science
• Mathematics
• Psychiatry
• Family medicine
• Nursing
• Medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Social psychology
• Engineering

Selected publications

• Health Care Providers’ Reported Barriers to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Initiation Among Cisgender Women

  Health Education & Behavior · 2026-03-30

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Previous research has demonstrated that sexual and reproductive health care providers never or rarely prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to cisgender women, despite their perception that HIV burden is high in this population. The present research was therefore designed to explore: (1) providers’ PrEP knowledge and relevant experiences, (2) providers’ willingness to prescribe PrEP to cisgender women, and (3) providers’ perceived barriers to PrEP uptake among cisgender women at the systems/community level, clinician level, and patient level. We conducted semistructured individual interviews with 18 health care providers currently working in a clinical capacity with cisgender women, including Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) ( n = 10), Primary Care ( n = 4), Infectious Disease (n = 2), and Other Specialty ( n = 2) providers. Participants practiced in 12 states across the Northeast ( n = 10), West Coast ( n = 4), South ( n = 3), and Midwest ( n = 1) regions of the United States. Interviews were coded using inductive/deductive hybrid thematic analysis. Of the 18 health care providers interviewed, nearly all ( n = 17) expressed willingness to prescribe PrEP. However, among those theoretically willing to prescribe PrEP, fewer than half ( n = 8) had ever prescribed it. When asked open-ended questions about their attitudes and experiences, all providers identified barriers to prescribing PrEP to cisgender women. These barriers fell into four categories: (1) knowledge, messaging, and (mis)information; (2) stigma and/or fear of stigma; (3) characteristics of the medication itself; and (4) accessibility of health care services. We discuss the implications for developing interventions to address the identified implementation gap and increase PrEP access and uptake among cisgender women.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• “If condoms really aren't an option, then I would maybe push more for considering PrEP”: A qualitative exploration of Women’s Health Providers’ PrEP prescribing practices

  AIDS Care · 2026-02-19

  articleSenior author

  Cisgender women account for approximately 20% of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., yet of those indicated for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake is only 10%. Cisgender women are amenable to PrEP; however, clinicians encounter individual and interpersonal barriers to prescriptions. This research examines clinicians' decision-making processes regarding PrEP provision for cisgender women. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with clinicians working with cisgender women in the U.S. to explore their decision-making processes for PrEP prescription and were presented with a vignette of a hypothetical patient. Clinicians were asked how they would assess their eligibility for PrEP and their clinical recommendations. Eighteen clinicians were interviewed. The majority reported at least some familiarity with PrEP. The majority were practicing clinicians trained as OB/GYNs, followed by Primary Care/Family/Internal Medicine. Clinicians frequently report their PrEP recommendations rely on the patient's overall risk and ability to use condoms. Clinicians' decision-making processes often follow a linear pathway through (1) the assessment of HIV risk, (2) STI testing, (3) condom counseling, and (4) PrEP counseling and provision. Despite medical guidelines recommending PrEP to all sexually active patients, clinicians rely on condoms as the primary prevention method and continue to assess the utility of PrEP through a risk-focused lens.

  PublisherDOI

• In utero HIV exposure and anthropometry trajectories from birth through 8 years of age: findings from a prospective birth cohort in South Africa

  medRxiv · 2025-12-04

  articleOpen access

  Background: Children who are HIV-exposed but uninfected (CHEU) may have suboptimal growth, but few data are available beyond infancy to inform public health strategies. Methods: We investigated anthropometry trajectories from 6 weeks to 8 years in a South African birth cohort, the Drakenstein Child Health study. Anthropometry was assessed at least annually by trained study staff and converted to weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and body mass index (BMIZ) z-scores. Stunting (HAZ <-2SD from 12 months) and overweight (BMIZ score >2 SD from 6 months) were secondary outcomes. Multivariable linear mixed effects models were used to estimate associations between HIV exposure status and anthropometry trajectories and explore the impact of maternal HIV factors among CHEU. Findings: Among 1,072 children (CHEU n= 236 (22%), children unexposed to HIV (CHU) n= 836 (78%)) mean birthweight was 3035 grams(g) (SD 592); CHEU 3012g (SD 598) vs CHU 3041g (SD 590) and 15.7% of infants were preterm (18.3% CHEU vs 15.0% CHU). Among women with HIV, 99% were on antiretroviral therapy (ART; 80% efavirenz-based ART), and 65% had an undetectable viral load in pregnancy. In multivariable analyses, CHEU had lower WAZ (marginal difference (MD) -0.16 (95% CI -0.32, -0.01) and HAZ (MD -0.26, 95% CI -0.41, - 0.11) scores, compared to CHU. Differences were largest before 3 years, but similar between CHEU and CHU thereafter. There was no association between HIV exposure and BMIZ scores (MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.17, 0.12), stunting (MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.04, 0.13) or overweight (MD 0.05, 95% CI -0.04, 0.13). Among CHEU, timing of maternal ART initiation, ART regimen, and viral load in pregnancy were not associated with anthropometry outcomes. Interpretation: Compared to CHU, CHEU had lower weight and height from birth to 8 years, driven by early life differences. Among CHEU, maternal HIV factors did not drive anthropometry outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Addressing Mental Health, Glucose Management, and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Among People With Gestational Diabetes via Mindfulness: Community Perspectives and Implications for Intervention Design

  Mindfulness · 2025-10-24

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Interventions to reduce HIV-related stigma among older people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

  AIDS Care · 2025-10-03 · 1 citations

  article

  HIV-related stigma remains a major barrier to testing, treatment, and quality of life, especially for the growing population of older people living with HIV (OPLWH, aged 50+). Such stigma intersects with age-related and other stigmas, compounding health vulnerabilities. Research on this issue remains limited, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This review thus sought to explore stigma-reduction interventions for OPLWH in SSA to inform future efforts. Guided by Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR standards, studies published between 2004 and 2024 including OPLWH in SSA and reporting stigma-reduction interventions were reviewed. A search of seven databases produced 709 articles, with 21 manually sought manually. Eight studies were included, five of which were from Kenya. Five were qualitative, and only one quantitative study included follow-up data. Three explicitly targeted stigma, and one intersectional stigma. Various features (e.g., education) were targeted, mostly at individual or interpersonal levels. Few operated at higher levels and age reporting was inconsistent. There is an evident lack of stigma-reduction interventions for OPLWH in SSA. Future efforts should consider age-related dynamics and intersecting stigmas. Social support (formal and informal) showed particular promise, alongside economic and nutrition-based strategies. Broader, higher-level efforts addressing social and institutional drivers of stigma are also needed.

  PublisherDOI

• Longitudinally investigating patterns of maternal psychological distress in a South African birth cohort

  BMC Public Health · 2025-10-08

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Psychological distress, a broad construct that encompasses of a range of emotional difficulties—including depression and anxiety—is prevalent during pregnancy and postnatally with up to 25% of women experiencing psychological distress globally. However, this is mostly described in high income countries (HIC), with little data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to describe and determine latent trajectory classes of maternal psychological distress from pregnancy through five years postpartum in a LMIC setting. Data were used from women enrolled in the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS), a birth cohort in South Africa. Women who had completed the Self-Report Questionnaire-20 items (SRQ-20) at two or more timepoints from pregnancy to 5 years postpartum, were included in the analysis. Latent class mixed modelling (LCMM) was used to generate latent trajectory classes of maternal psychological distress. Predictors, including trauma exposure, socio-economic indicators, substance use and pregnancy complications, of the latent classes were investigated using multinomial logistic regression. In 973 women, four trajectory classes of maternal psychological distress were derived from pregnancy through 5 years postpartum, 1) persistent psychological distress symptoms, 2) antenatal symptoms only, 3) late postnatal onset of symptoms (post perinatal stage) and 4) low symptoms of psychological distress. Predictors of the persistent symptom class included early and recent trauma exposure, smoking during pregnancy, and gestational diabetes, whereas partner support was protective. Trauma exposure prior or during pregnancy was a predictor for the antenatal symptom class, while postnatal trauma exposure was associated with the late onset symptom class. Trajectories and predictors of maternal psychological distress were found to be similar to those seen in depression only and in HIC, which suggests there could be a degree of universality with regards to predictors of psychological distress. Trauma experienced by women was found to be a critical risk factor for psychological distress, as was maternal smoking or lack of partner support. There is an urgent need for social transformation surrounding gender-based violence and prevention and smoking cessation programs targeting women of child bearing age.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Associations between maternal lipid profiles and cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes among children who are HIV-exposed uninfected vs. HIV-unexposed children aged 5–8 years in a South African birth cohort

  AIDS · 2025-10-09

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between maternal gestational lipid biomarkers and cardiometabolic health indicators in children who are HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU) and HIV-unexposed uninfected children. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Our study randomly sampled 260 mother-child pairs from Drakenstein Child Health Study ( N = 100 CHEU & N = 160 HIV-unexposed uninfected). Multivariable linear regression were used to assess associations between maternal lipid biomarkers from second trimester of pregnancy with child cardiometabolic indicators at 5-8 years of age and explored potential effect modification by HIV exposure status in stratified analyses. Child cardiometabolic indicators included lipids, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and body composition. RESULTS: Associations were found between maternal total cholesterol (TC) and child TC and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) [TC; mean difference [MD] 0.19, 95% CI 0.09-0.30] & [LDL; MD 0.21, 95% CI 0.12-0.31]. When stratified by HIV exposure status, the relationship between maternal TC and child TC was stronger in CHEU children than in HU children. The relationship between maternal TC and child LDL was also observed to be stronger in CHEU. Maternal high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was associated with the child HDL levels [MD 0.13, 95% CI 0.03-0.23]; when stratified, this association was only demonstrated in HIV-unexposed uninfected children. No significant associations were found between maternal lipids and child HbA1c, insulin resistance, SBP or DBP, or body composition. CONCLUSION: In a birth cohort of South African CHEU and HU children, maternal gestational lipid profiles was associated with child lipid metabolism, and this relationship may differ based on in-utero HIV exposure status.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• “As an older person my thoughts do not focus on one thing”: a qualitative exploration of the experiences of intersectional stigma and living with HIV among older people in Cape Town, South Africa

  AIDS Care · 2025-12-12 · 1 citations

  article

  In South Africa, HIV prevalence among people over 50 exceeds 18.5%, yet research and interventions for older people living with HIV (OPLWH) remain limited. Evidence links HIV stigma to poor health outcomes, but little is known about OPLWH's experiences in resource-limited settings. This study explores how OPLWH understand and experience intersecting stigmas, and how these shape engagement in care. Using a qualitative exploratory design, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews, body mapping and social network analyses with 30 OPLWH from three clinics. Data were transcribed, translated and thematically analysed using a stigma framework. While structural stigma was limited, participants described intersecting stigmas related to age, gender and sexuality. Historically enacted stigma, linked to the pre-ART era, had declined as HIV became normalised. However, community and anticipated stigma continued to influence disclosure and coping strategies, often leading to concealment. Internalised stigma initially hindered care engagement and caused isolation, but support and time fostered resilience. Financial insecurity, co-morbidities and family roles amplified stigma's effects, yet participants developed coping strategies that strengthened psychological resilience. Despite stigma, OPLWH demonstrated strategies to ensure mitigation and agency and self-efficacy, highlighting the need for multi-level interventions addressing stigma within broader social and economic contexts.

  PublisherDOI

• Male perspectives on intimate partner violence: A qualitative analysis from South Africa

  PLoS ONE · 2024-04-16 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects one in four women globally and is more commonly enacted by men than women. Rates of IPV in South Africa exceed the global average. Exploring the background and context regarding why men use violence can help future efforts to prevent IPV. METHODS: We explored adult men's perspectives of IPV, livelihoods, alcohol use, gender beliefs, and childhood exposure to abuse through a secondary analysis of qualitative interviews that were conducted in South Africa. The setting was a peri-urban township characterized by high unemployment, immigration from rural areas, and low service provision. We utilized thematic qualitative analysis that was guided by the social ecological framework. RESULTS: Of 30 participants, 20 were residents in the neighborhood, 7 were trained community members, and 3 were program staff. Men reported consumption of alcohol and lack of employment as being triggers for IPV and community violence in general. Multiple participants recounted childhood exposure to abuse. These themes, in addition to culturally prescribed gender norms and constructs of manhood, seemed to influence the use of violence. CONCLUSION: Interventions aimed at reducing IPV should consider the cultural and social impact on men's use of IPV in low-resource, high-IPV prevalence settings, such as peri-urban South Africa. This work highlights the persistent need for the implementation of effective primary prevention strategies that address contextual and economic factors in an effort to reduce IPV that is primarily utilized by men directed at women.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Male perspectives on intimate partner violence: A qualitative analysis from South Africa

  UNC Libraries · 2024-05-04

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects one in four women globally and is more commonly enacted by men than women. Rates of IPV in South Africa exceed the global average. Exploring the background and context regarding why men use violence can help future efforts to prevent IPV. Methods We explored adult men’s perspectives of IPV, livelihoods, alcohol use, gender beliefs, and childhood exposure to abuse through a secondary analysis of qualitative interviews that were conducted in South Africa. The setting was a peri-urban township characterized by high unemployment, immigration from rural areas, and low service provision. We utilized thematic qualitative analysis that was guided by the social ecological framework. Results Of 30 participants, 20 were residents in the neighborhood, 7 were trained community members, and 3 were program staff. Men reported consumption of alcohol and lack of employment as being triggers for IPV and community violence in general. Multiple participants recounted childhood exposure to abuse. These themes, in addition to culturally prescribed gender norms and constructs of manhood, seemed to influence the use of violence. Conclusion Interventions aimed at reducing IPV should consider the cultural and social impact on men’s use of IPV in low-resource, high-IPV prevalence settings, such as peri-urban South Africa. This work highlights the persistent need for the implementation of effective primary prevention strategies that address contextual and economic factors in an effort to reduce IPV that is primarily utilized by men directed at women.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Adherence to HIV Treatment Postpartum: The Implications of Transitions Among Women Living with HIV in South Africa

  NIH · $893k · 2022–2023

Frequent coauthors

• Yori Gidron

  University of Haifa

  1144 shared

• Barbara Resnick

  University of Maryland, Baltimore

  516 shared

• Mustafa Al’Absi

  University of Minnesota

  444 shared

• Steven Gambert

  University of Maryland, Baltimore

  376 shared

• Deborah Lee Young-Hyman

  National Institutes of Health

  364 shared

• J. Rick Turner

  IQVIA (United States)

  356 shared

• Elizabeth Galik

  264 shared

• Ornit Chiba‐Falek

  Duke University

  262 shared

Labs

• Pellowski Research GroupPI

Education

• Ph.D., Social Psychology

  University of Connecticut

  2015

• Other, Child/Adolescent Biobehavioral HIV research

  Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital

Awards & honors

• Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring, Brown School of Pu…