Claire Rothschild receives predoctoral fellowship to improve family planning in Kenya

The Department of Epidemiology (Epi) congratulates Claire Rothschild for receiving an F31 predoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The $89,000 predoctoral research award will support her dissertation research on using mobile technology to improve family planning data and outcomes in Kenya, under the mentorship of Dr. Alison Drake, an adjunct assistant professor in Epi.

Claire is collaborating with PATH’s country program in Kenya, and Kenyatta National Hospital to better understand when and why women stop using or switch methods of contraception. The project will use data from more than 1,200 women just beginning or continuing modern family planning who seek care in maternal and child health clinics in Kenya. The data was captured through text message questionnaires sent to study participants that measured contraception use, concerns, side effects, and satisfaction on a weekly basis.

“Supporting women to achieve their reproductive goals is a critical priority for reproductive justice,” Claire said. “Better understanding women’s experiences and challenges using contraception is essential for reducing preventable morbidity and mortality that arises from unintended and mistimed pregnancies.

The project aims to identify predictors of contraceptive dissatisfaction and early discontinuation among women who do not wish to become pregnant, with the goal of developing pragmatic tools that could assist frontline health workers to identify women who may benefit from additional support. Claire plans to explore the quality of family planning services and how the quality of care may influence subsequent satisfaction and adherence to a specific contraceptive method.

Results from this study could be used to inform the design of more effective and targeted family planning programs and policies in areas with a high unmet need for contraception.