NIH-funded research R21 grant

Linking family planning with infant vaccination services to improve postpartum contraception access

Official title: Increasing access to postpartum contraception by linking family planning and infant vaccination services

Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10840827 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking to help new moms in rural India get easier access to birth control right after having a baby by combining family planning services with vaccination events for their infants, making it more convenient for them to make choices about their health.

More Postpartum research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project startMay 15, 2023
Project endApril 30, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$174,865
NIH project number5R21HD108351-02
Project IDNIH-10840827 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are postpartum women and couples living in rural areas of India who are seeking family planning services.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not postpartum or those who do not reside in rural areas of India may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research aims to enhance access to postpartum contraception for women in rural India by integrating family planning services with community-based infant vaccination programs. By utilizing well-attended vaccination events, the project seeks to provide postpartum family planning care, addressing the high unmet need for contraception among postpartum women. The approach includes gender-transformative programming to empower women and couples in their contraceptive decision-making. The study will pilot test a program called PIVoT, which will be delivered by trained nurses during vaccination visits.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce unintended pregnancies and improve maternal and infant health outcomes in rural communities.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that integrating gender-transformative approaches in family planning can lead to increased contraceptive use, indicating potential success for this novel integration strategy.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California, San Diego
    La Jolla, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Averbach, Sarah — University of California, San Diego
  • Study coordinator: Averbach, Sarah

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.