Black women in the US are more likely to experience unintended and short-interval pregnancies, which are associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes for mothers and infants. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including the placement of intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants, is the most effective contraceptive method for reducing unintended and short-interval pregnancies; however, Black ...Read more >

Motivation for contraceptive use hinges on the user’s assumption that they are fertile—capable of conceiving or impregnating. The idea of infertility carries anxiety and stigma for many and, with no way to validate fertility other than attempting pregnancy, may cause people to doubt their reproductive capacity and need for contraception even though they have no ...Read more >

Provision of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) before women leave the delivery hospital can be difficult for health care systems to achieve due to the high costs of devices and insertion. In response to challenges with the global fee for labor and delivery services, 37 states since 2012 have established mechanisms to provide appropriate reimbursement for ...Read more >

This study will examine the experiences of sexual and gender minority (SGM) young people who have had at least one abortion. This study will be innovative by lifting voices of those who are typically excluded from traditional women’s health research and practice. The overall focus of this study will be on understanding SGM young people’s ...Read more >

April J. Bell has designed and implemented data collection and evaluation systems in domestic and international settings. She received her BA in Human Biology from Stanford University, her MPH with a dual concentration in Epidemiology and Social and Behavioral Sciences from the School of Medicine at Indiana University (IU) and is a PhD candidate in ...Read more >

Women ages 18-29 years, Black women, and those of low social status have the highest rates of unintended pregnancy in the US. Enhancing our understanding of young Black women’s family planning care experiences is crucial to improving the quality of patient care and health outcomes and reducing reproductive health disparities. When young age is combined ...Read more >

Reports show that teen pregnancy rates have been declining in the US for the past two decades. However, this broad brushstroke statistic does not reflect rural America, specifically rural Missouri. Twenty-two rural Missouri counties have teen pregnancy rates well above the national average of 43 per 1,000 and 14 of those counties saw an increase ...Read more >

Nationwide rates of incarceration for women have increased compared to rates of their male counterparts. Women in jails and prisons across the US are often of reproductive age and disproportionately include ethnic minorities who are less educated and often impoverished, creating one of the most vulnerable populations in our country. Multiple studies have demonstrated high ...Read more >

The majority of Americans believe that women should be able to choose freely between abortion and pregnancy. However, for many women, this ”choice” is simply unavailable. There are a multitude of barriers to abortion access in the US, which in effect, prevent women from making their own decisions about pregnancy. These barriers include the availability ...Read more >

While recent studies show that there are barriers identified to providing medical abortions, there are clinics and physicians that overcome these barriers to provide the service. Prior research has not specifically identified barriers preventing doctors from providing medical abortions in South Dakota. Currently, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) is the sole provider ...Read more >