Amanda Stevenson, PhD, University of Colorado

Does access to high quality family planning positively affect the life course of women and their families? We plan to address this question – one which is crucial to policy arguments worldwide, but which has rarely been studied with adequate data on the life course outcomes of the women family planning programs are intended to ...Read more >

Alyssa Hersh, BA, BS, Oregon Health & Science University

Objective: To compare two methods of delivering contraceptive counseling to pregnant women upon hospital admission for delivery in Colombia. Methods: This study is a multi-center randomized, controlled trial nested in a prospective cohort study which is studying long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) uptake after contraceptive counseling and immediate provision. Women admitted to either of two urban, ...Read more >

Samantha Garbers, PhD, Public Health Solutions

Screening women of reproductive age for pregnancy intention as a routine part of primary care has been recommended by professional organizations as a way to reduce the unintended pregnancy rate and improve birth outcomes through a prevention-oriented approach. However, increasing attention to reproductive justice, cultural relevance, and patient-centered outcomes has raised questions about the effectiveness ...Read more >

Stephanie Begun, PhD, MSW, University of Denver

Objectives: Homeless youth demonstrate high pregnancy rates; such pregnancies are linked to myriad adverse health and life outcomes. Many homeless youth exhibit pregnancy-ambivalent attitudes, yet few research efforts have sought to understand potential influences on such attitude formation that may be found in youths’ complex social networks and surrounding social norms. There is also a ...Read more >

Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS, University of Pittsburgh

I am seeking a Mid-Career Award in order to continue to mentor a multidisciplinary group of trainees interested in the provision of family planning services. My ultimate goal is to improve birth outcomes by nurturing a team of investigators who are committed to implementing interventions to ensure effective use of contraception by women whose medical ...Read more >

Angel Foster, MD, DPhil, AM, Ibis Reproductive Health

Background: In 2001, Tunisia became the first country in the Arab world to register a dedicated emergency contraceptive pill (ECP). Over the last decade, emergency contraception (EC) has been integrated into both the public and private health sectors and into national service delivery guidelines. In 2005, ECPs were made available, without a prescription, directly from ...Read more >

Chelsea Polis, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University

Introduction: Sayana Press, a subcutaneous formulation of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) prefilled in a Uniject syringe, could potentially improve and expand contraceptive injection services, but acceptability of Sayana Press is unknown. HIV-positive women have a particular need for family planning to avoid unintended pregnancy and risk of vertical transmission. We assessed acceptability of Sayana Press ...Read more >

Shana Judge, JD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

This study examines the impact of state parental involvement laws on pregnant minors who seek abortions, focusing on the laws’ effect on fetal gestational age at the time of the procedure. The study uses a regression discontinuity design to analyze individual-level data on induced abortions reported to the National Center for Health Statistics by 14 ...Read more >

Stephanie Teal, MD, MPH, University of Colorado

Mistimed pregnancy in diabetics may lead to significant health risks. Although good glycemic control prior to pregnancy can ameliorate these risks, most diabetic pregnancies start with suboptimal glucose control. Pregnancy planning requires effective contraceptive use. Little is known about contraceptive decision-making by diabetic women, and barriers to contraceptive use they face. Women from minority populations ...Read more >

Diane Morof, MD, MSc, University of Zimbabwe

Background: The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), Mirena, which prevents pregnancy for 5-7 years, has been determined to be highly effective, safe and well tolerated in the majority of users. Acceptability studies of the LNG-IUS in Zimbabwe have not been completed. Zimbabwean women have a need for access to long-term contraception that is safe, effective and ...Read more >