Where people lack reproductive and maternity care
Reproductive Healthcare Deserts and Maternal and Infant Health
This project maps local gaps in access to contraception, prenatal, and maternity services to show how those gaps affect mothers and babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181169 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project identifies neighborhoods and communities with limited or no access to contraception, prenatal care, maternity services, and abortion care. The team will combine clinic and facility location data, local community surveys, and health records to create fine‑grained maps of 'contraceptive' and 'maternity' deserts. They will link those local access measures to maternal and infant health outcomes to see where facility closures or service shortages are tied to worse care. The results aim to spotlight communities that most need additional services and inform local policy and clinic planning.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People of reproductive age, pregnant people, and new parents—especially those living in areas with few clinics or long travel distances—are most relevant to this study.
Not a fit: People who are not seeking reproductive or maternity care, those outside the United States, or individuals living where services are readily available may not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help target clinics, programs, and policies to neighborhoods where pregnant people and new parents lack essential reproductive and maternity care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked state‑level policies and facility closures to worse maternal outcomes, but mapping access at a local 'desert' level is newer and less established.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sennott, Christie — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Sennott, Christie
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 below.