Meeting the reproductive health needs of individuals and families – including access to family planning, prevention of cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections, and safe motherhood – is a global health priority. Addressing the complex barriers to these needs requires a nuanced understanding of the target population. Data science methods offers an effective way to build understanding and identify solutions. While data science is increasingly used in global health, its application to reproductive health remains nascent.

This team sought to develop novel models to evaluate reproductive health challenges using data science in partnership with IntraHealth International’s digital health team and the Center for Global Reproductive Health’s Kenya-based research team. Three subteams carried out interrelated projects, including a mixed-methods study analyzing access to modern contraception among women with developmental disabilities in North Carolina; an analysis of the association between armed conflict and contraceptive use; and an investigation into using natural language processing techniques to examine stigma around cervical cancer in Kenya. 

Learn more about this project team by viewing the team's video.

Timing

Fall 2021 – Spring 2022  

Team Outputs

Contraception, Conflict and Cancer: Examining Reproductive Health Challenges Through Data (2022 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase)

Big Data for Reproductive Health (BD4RH): An Overview of 2021-2022 (poster by Sunrita Gupta, Foxx Hart, Alexandra Lawrence, Payton Little, Lauren Mitchell, Neha Shrishail, Linda Tang, Shari Tian, Bhamini Vellanki, Aarushi Venkatakrishnan, Kelly Hunter, Amy Finnegan and Megan Huchko, presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, Duke University, April 13, 2022)

Analyzing Access to Modern Contraception Among Women with Developmental Disabilities in North Carolina: A Mixed-Methods Study (poster by Lauren Mitchell, Linda Tang, Bhamini Vellanki, Kelly Hunter, Amy Finnegan and Megan Huchko, presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, Duke University, April 13, 2022)

Analyzing the Association Between Conflict and Contraceptive Use in Mali, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria (poster by Sunrita Gupta, Shari Tian, Payton Little, Amy Finnegan and Kelly Hunter, presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, Duke University, April 13, 2022)

Using Natural Language Processing Techniques to Examine Stigma with Cervical Cancer in Kenya (poster by Foxx Hart, Alexandra Lawrence, Neha Shrishail and Lynne Wang, presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, Duke University, April 13, 2022)

Amy Finnegan, Saisahana Subburaj, Kelly Hunter, Priya Parkash, Elizabeth Shulman, Janel Ramkalawan, Megan J Huchko. 2023. Big Data, Machine Learning and Contraceptive Use: A Scoping Review. Oxford Open Digital Health vol. 1.

Lauren Mitchell, Bhamini Vellanki, Linda Tang, Kelly Hunter, Amy Finnegan, Jonas Swartz, Megan Huchko. 2023. Contraceptive Provision to Women With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Enrolled in Medicaid Obstetrics & Gynecology 142(6):p 1477-1485

This Team in the News

Graduate and Professional Student Spotlight: Reflections from the Class of 2023

Senior Spotlight: Reflections from the Class of 2023

Meet the Members of the 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council

See earlier related team, Big Data for Reproductive Health (2020-2021).

Image: Reproductive Health in Burkina Faso, by Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0