Erica Sedlander, DrPH, MPH
Assistant Professor
Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health and Aging
School of Nursing

Dr. Sedlander is an Assistant Professor and Social and Behavioral Scientist. Her research portfolio seeks to uncover mechanisms to help women achieve their reproductive goals throughout the life course (from pregnancy prevention to infertility prevention).

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Dr. Sedlander developed and validated the G-NORM, a gender norms scale, in India, Nepal, and Uganda. As part of her dissertation, Dr. Sedlander and colleagues also implemented and evaluated a randomized controlled trial in India to improve nutritional behaviors among women using a social norms approach.

In her prior research in Kenya and Ethiopia, she used mixed methods (including social network analysis) to show that women were not using contraception because they (or people in their networks) believed it would make them infertile, which is highly stigmatized. These findings inspired her to examine infertility more closely. She is currently studying beliefs about infertility among men, women, and providers in Tanzania. Given that couples living with HIV have higher rates of infertility but antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves their chances of getting pregnant, she is also studying perceptions about how HIV and ART affect their ability to get pregnant to inform a future ART adherence intervention.

Awards

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• Society of Hellman Fellows Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2023-2024
• UCSF Chancellors Fund Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2023
• GWSPH Doctoral Professional Development Award, Milken Institute School of Public Health, 2019
• Sigur Center Asian Research Fellow, The Elliott School of International Affairs, GWU, 2019
• Clara Schiffer Fellow for Women's Health, The Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, GWU, 2019
• Lori & Michael Milken Public Health Scholar Award, Milken Institute School of Public Health, 2016

Education & Training

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• DrPH Health Behavior George Washington University
• MPH Health, Behavior, and Society University of California, Berkeley
• BA Sociology University of California, Santa Cruz

Interests

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• Fertility
• Infertility
• Social Norms
• Reproductive Health
• Women's Health
• HIV/AIDS
• ART adherence

Grants and Projects

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• Investigating a Novel ART Adherence Strategy – Harnessing Fertility Desires Among Women with HIV, NIH - KL2 Training Grant, 2024-2027
• Advancing our understanding of attitudes, beliefs, and social norms related to infertility in Tanzania, UCSF Society of Hellman Scholars, 2023-2025
• Understanding Women Living with HIV’s Perceptions of the Relationship between HIV, ART, and Fertility, CFAR - Center for AIDS Research, 2024-2025
• Protecting fertility as a critical part of the sexual and reproductive lifecourse in Tanzania, UC Berkeley Population Center, 2023-2025
• Optimizing Approaches to Implementation of Contraceptive Self-Injection, The Gates Foundation, 2019-2024
• Dissemination of an Adapted and Validated Gender Norms Measure in Uganda, UCSF Resource Allocation Funds (RAP), 2023-2024

Publications (43)

Top publication keywords:
Contraception BehaviorIronFamily Planning ServicesAnemia, Iron-DeficiencyContraceptive AgentsIndiaInfertilityAnemiaMass MediaFolic AcidWatchful WaitingSocial NormsReproductive HealthContraceptionDietary Supplements

• Adaptation of the G-NORM (Gender norms scale) in Uganda: An examination of how gender norms are associated with reproductive health decision-making.
  PloS one 2024 Sedlander E, Granovsky R, Birabwa C, Amongin D, Wasswa R, Diamond-Smith N, Waiswa P, Holt K, Bingenheimer JB
• The Effects of the RANI Project on 6-Month Physical Activity Among Women Living in Rural India: A Randomized-Controlled Trial.
  Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 2024 DiPietro L, Bingenheimer J, Talegawkar SA, Sedlander E, Yilma H, Pradhan P, Rimal RN
• Interpersonal Communication Strategies to Increase Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Consumption: Reduction in Anemia Through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project.
  Journal of health communication 2024 Ganjoo R, Rimal RN, Bingenheimer J, Sedlander E, Jin Y, Talegawkar SA, Pant I, Aluc A, Yilma H, Panda B
• Concern that contraception affects future fertility: How common is this concern among young people and does it stop them from using contraception?
  Contraception: X 2023 Watson A, Yarger J, Sedlander E, Urbina J, Hopkins K, Rodriguez MI, Fuentes L, Harper CC
• The role of social norms on adolescent family planning in rural Kilifi county, Kenya.
  PloS one 2023 Lahiri S, Bingenheimer J, Sedlander E, Munar W, Rimal R

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• Analyzing fast and slow: Combining traditional and rapid qualitative analysis to meet multiple objectives of a complex transnational study.
  Frontiers in sociology 2023 Suchman L, Omoluabi E, Kramer J, Vallin J, Sedlander E, Gitome S, Wekesa P, Kwena Z, Granovsky R, Kayego A, Kaudha B, Atuyambe L, Amongin D, Alitubeera P, Tijani A, Okoli C, Jegede A, Kamanga M, …
• Adapting and Validating the G-NORM (Gender Norms Scale) in Nepal: An Examination of How Gender Norms Are Associated with Agency and Reproductive Health Outcomes.
  Studies in family planning 2023 Sedlander E, Dahal M, Bingenheimer JB, Puri MC, Rimal RN, Granovsky R, Diamond-Smith NG
• Monitor to innovate with feedback loops: process evaluation protocol for an anemia prevention intervention.
  Gates open research 2022 Pant I, Patro L, Sedlander E, Chandrana S, Rimal R
• The G-NORM Scale: Development and Validation of a Theory-Based Gender Norms Scale.
  Sex roles 2022 Sedlander E, Bingenheimer JB, Long MW, Swain M, Rimal RN
• How does a social norms-based intervention affect behaviour change? Interim findings from a cluster randomised controlled trial in Odisha, India.
  BMJ open 2022 Sedlander E, Pant I, Bingenheimer J, Yilma H, Patro L, Mohanty S, Ganjoo R, Rimal R
• If fear of infertility restricts contraception use, what do we know about this fear? An examination in rural Ethiopia.
  Reproductive health 2022 Sedlander E, Yilma H, Emaway D, Rimal RN
• mHealth for Anemia Reduction: Protocol for an Entertainment Education-Based Dual Intervention.
  JMIR research protocols 2021 Pant I, Rimal R, Yilma H, Bingenheimer J, Sedlander E, Behera S
• Dietary Diversity and Its Associations with Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Odisha, India.
  Ecology of food and nutrition 2021 Jin Y, Talegawkar SA, Sedlander E, DiPietro L, Parida M, Ganjoo R, Aluc A, Rimal R
• Iron and folic acid consumption and changing social norms: cluster randomized field trial, Odisha, India.
  Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2021 Rimal RN, Yilma H, Sedlander E, Mohanty S, Patro L, Pant I, Khuntia SK, Swain M, Behera S
• A Social Norms-Based Intervention Improves Dietary Diversity among Women in Rural India: The Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project.
  Nutrients 2021 Talegawkar SA, Jin Y, Sedlander E, Ganjoo R, Behera S, DiPietro L, Rimal R
• Does the Belief That Contraceptive Use Causes Infertility Actually Affect Use? Findings from a Social Network Study in Kenya.
  Studies in family planning 2021 Sedlander E, Bingenheimer JB, Lahiri S, Thiongo M, Gichangi P, Munar W, Rimal RN
• Examining intentions to take iron supplements to inform a behavioral intervention: The Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) project.
  PloS one 2021 Sedlander E, Long MW, Bingenheimer JB, Rimal RN
• Improving iron folic acid consumption through interpersonal communication: Findings from the Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) project.
  Patient education and counseling 2021 Ganjoo R, Rimal RN, Talegawkar SA, Sedlander E, Pant I, Bingenheimer JB, Chandarana S, Aluc A, Jin Y, Yilma H, Panda B
• Determinants of work capacity (predicted VO2max) in non-pregnant women of reproductive age living in rural India.
  BMC public health 2021 DiPietro L, Bingenheimer J, Talegawkar SA, Sedlander E, Yilma H, Pradhan P, Rimal R
• How gender norms affect anemia in select villages in rural Odisha, India: A qualitative study.
  Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) 2021 Sedlander E, Talegawkar S, Ganjoo R, Ladwa C, DiPietro L, Aluc A, Rimal RN
• Is fatigue a cue to obtain iron supplements in Odisha, India? A mixed methods investigation.
  BMJ open 2020 Yilma H, Sedlander E, Rimal RN, Pattnaik S
• Patient-Reported Reasons for Not Using Primary Prevention Statin Therapy.
  Journal of clinical medicine 2020 DeWitt CM, Ponce RB, Bry H, Wali S, Sedlander E, Ladapo JA
• Variation in Self-Perceived Fecundity among Young Adult U.S. Women.
  Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health 2020 Gemmill A, Sedlander E, Bornstein M
• A Clinical Reminder Order Check Intervention to Improve Guideline-concordant Imaging Practices for Men With Prostate Cancer: A Pilot Study.
  Urology 2020 Ciprut SE, Kelly MD, Walter D, Hoffman R, Becker DJ, Loeb S, Sedlander E, Tenner CT, Sherman SE, Zeliadt SB, Makarov DV
• "It Allows You to Challenge Your Beliefs": Examining Medical Students' Reactions to First Trimester Abortion.
  Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health 2020 Rivlin K, Sedlander E, Cepin A
• Moving beyond individual barriers and identifying multi-level strategies to reduce anemia in Odisha India.
  BMC public health 2020 Sedlander E, Long MW, Mohanty S, Munjral A, Bingenheimer JB, Yilma H, Rimal RN
• The reduction in anemia through normative innovations (RANI) project: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial in Odisha, India.
  BMC public health 2020 Yilma H, Sedlander E, Rimal RN, Pant I, Munjral A, Mohanty S
• Beyond Individual-Level Theorizing in Social Norms Research: How Collective Norms and Media Access Affect Adolescents' Use of Contraception.
  The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2019 Sedlander E, Rimal RN
• Quantifying downstream impact of inappropriate staging imaging in a cohort of veterans with low- and intermediate-risk incident prostate cancer.
  Urologic oncology 2018 Drangsholt S, Walter D, Ciprut S, Lepor A, Sedlander E, Curnyn C, Loeb S, Malloy P, Winn AN, Makarov DV
• "They Destroy the Reproductive System": Exploring the Belief that Modern Contraceptive Use Causes Infertility.
  Studies in family planning 2018 Sedlander E, Bingenheimer JB, Thiongo M, Gichangi P, Rimal RN, Edberg M, Munar W
• Understanding modern contraception uptake in one Ethiopian community: a case study.
  Reproductive health 2018 Sedlander E, Bingenheimer JB, Edberg MC, Rimal RN, Shaikh H, Munar W
• The RANI Project: A socio-normative intervention to reduce anemia in Odisha, India: A formative research protocol.
  Gates open research 2018 Sedlander E, Rimal RN, Talegawkar SA, Yilma H, Munar W
• Barriers and facilitators affecting the implementation of substance use screening in primary care clinics: a qualitative study of patients, providers, and staff.
  Addiction science & clinical practice 2018 McNeely J, Kumar PC, Rieckmann T, Sedlander E, Farkas S, Chollak C, Kannry JL, Vega A, Waite EA, Peccoralo LA, Rosenthal RN, McCarty D, Rotrosen J
• Health state utilities among contemporary prostate cancer patients on active surveillance.
  Translational andrology and urology 2018 Loeb S, Curnyn C, Walter D, Fagerlin A, Siebert U, Mühlberger N, Braithwaite RS, Schwartz MD, Lepor H, Sedlander E
• Designing a theory-based intervention to improve the guideline-concordant use of imaging to stage incident prostate cancer.
  Urologic oncology 2018 Ciprut S, Sedlander E, Watts KL, Matulewicz RS, Stange KC, Sherman SE, Makarov DV
• Informational needs during active surveillance for prostate cancer: A qualitative study.
  Patient education and counseling 2017 Loeb S, Curnyn C, Fagerlin A, Braithwaite RS, Schwartz MD, Lepor H, Carter HB, Ciprut S, Sedlander E
• Veterans' Preferences for Remote Management of Chronic Conditions.
  Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association 2017 Sedlander E, Barboza KC, Jensen A, Skursky N, Bennett K, Sherman S, Schwartz M
• Group education sessions for women veterans who experienced sexual violence: Qualitative findings.
  Families, systems & health : the journal of collaborative family healthcare 2017 Dognin J, Sedlander E, Jay M, Ades V
• Qualitative study on decision-making by prostate cancer physicians during active surveillance.
  BJU international 2016 Loeb S, Curnyn C, Fagerlin A, Braithwaite RS, Schwartz MD, Lepor H, Carter HB, Sedlander E
• A qualitative study to understand guideline-discordant use of imaging to stage incident prostate cancer.
  Implementation science : IS 2016 Makarov DV, Sedlander E, Braithwaite RS, Sherman SE, Zeliadt S, Gross CP, Curnyn C, Shedlin M
• Perspectives of Prostate Cancer Patients on Gleason Scores and the New Grade Groups: Initial Qualitative Study.
  European urology 2016 Loeb S, Curnyn C, Sedlander E
• Opportunities and Challenges for Adolescent Health Under the Affordable Care Act.
  Maternal and child health journal 2015 Tebb KP, Sedlander E, Bausch S, Brindis CD
• Options for assuring access to confidential care for adolescents and young adults in an explanation of benefits environment.
  The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2015 Sedlander E, Brindis CD, Bausch SH, Tebb KP