Impact of reproductive policy changes on fertility and maternal/infant health
Official title: The fertility, maternal health, and infant health consequences of reproductive policy change
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11362589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how new state policies on reproduction and pregnancy affect fertility, maternal health, and infant outcomes in the U.S.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $406,080 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD114292-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include pregnant people and those planning pregnancy in states implementing policy changes related to reproductive health.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not affected by state-level reproductive policies or those outside of pregnancy-related care timelines may see less direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Johns Hopkins will analyze state-level data from 2016–2024 to see how recent reproductive and pregnancy health policies influence birth rates, timing of prenatal care, and infant health. They will combine birth certificates, Census data, and hospitalization records and use robust methods to separate policy effects from underlying trends and the COVID-19 period. The goal is to understand which groups are most affected and how changes in the birthing population contribute to observed health outcomes. Results could inform policymakers and clinicians about gaps in access to care and potential strategies to protect maternal and infant well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide policy decisions to improve access to timely prenatal care and reduce adverse birth outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work using interrupted time series and difference-in-differences has linked policy changes to health outcomes in some contexts, but this study adds state-specific, multi-source data for stronger causal inference.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bell, Suzanne O'dea — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Bell, Suzanne O'dea
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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.