Reproductive health for women with disabilities: understanding barriers and outcomes
Official title: Examining reproductive health outcomes in women with disabilities
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11365659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how social factors affect reproductive health outcomes for women with disabilities and aims to identify ways to improve access to care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $536,246 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD117164-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women with disabilities who are planning pregnancy, pregnant, or in the postpartum period, across diverse geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without reproductive health needs or without disabilities are less likely to directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Women with disabilities often face major barriers to getting reliable reproductive health information and high-quality care. The study will look at how social determinants like income, education, and access to services influence outcomes during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum periods. Using national data and disability questions, researchers will examine differences between those with and without disabilities to understand where gaps exist and how geography and resources may shape care. The project uses mixed methods to connect large-scale data with real-world experiences to inform better policies and practices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide policies and healthcare practices to reduce barriers and improve reproductive health outcomes for women with disabilities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows barriers and disparities exist; this project adds a comprehensive, nationally representative analysis focused on disability and social determinants.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alhusen, Jeanne L — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Alhusen, Jeanne L
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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.