Exploring the reproductive health needs of young men who have been in jail
Official title: Understanding the Complex Reproductive Health Needs of Formerly Incarcerated Young Men
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11009980 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the sexual and reproductive health needs of young men aged 15-29 who have been in jail, to better understand their experiences and help create programs that improve their access to health services and support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | January 10, 2024 |
| Project end | March 21, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $43,519 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD114341-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11009980 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young men aged 15-29 who have a history of incarceration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not formerly incarcerated or who are outside the age range of 15-29 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of young men aged 15-29 who have been formerly incarcerated. It aims to understand their reproductive attitudes and behaviors, focusing on the social factors that affect their access to SRH services. By identifying these needs, the study seeks to develop interventions that can improve their reproductive health outcomes and autonomy. The research employs a socio-ecological framework to analyze the complex influences on these young men's reproductive lives.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to reproductive health services and better health outcomes for formerly incarcerated young men.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on women's reproductive health in the criminal justice system, this focus on young men is relatively novel and has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gemmill, Alison — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Gemmill, Alison
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AskDoki: a mobile chat bot to improve adolescent sexual health in Kenyan youth
A mobile AI chat bot, AskDoki, will provide on-demand sexual and reproductive health information to 15-year-olds in urban Kenyan communities, with support from trained youth peer leaders.
-
Male pesticide exposure and reproductive health through epigenetics
This project looks at how a man’s exposure to pesticides might affect his fertility and the health of his future children through changes in DNA.
-
New survey tools to improve participation and quality of sexual and reproductive health data
A patient-friendly project tests how new online survey features can help more people share accurate pregnancy and sexual health information.
-
How choosing PrEP products could improve HIV protection for young women in Kenya
This project looks at which HIV-prevention options young Kenyan women prefer and how choosing a product affects how well they stay protected.
-
Effectiveness of PrEP product choice for HIV prevention among young Kenyan women seeking reproductive health services
A study tests which PrEP options best help young Kenyan women stay protected against HIV when they access reproductive health services.
-
Understanding how vaginal tissue changes after menopause affect reproductive health
A research team is studying why the vaginal lining changes after menopause and how this affects health, with potential solutions to improve comfort and reduce infection risk for postmenopausal women.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.