Become our Friend by Making a Donation Today!

Our belief is that every woman has a right to plan if, when, and how to have a family regardless of race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, or citizenship. In order to best protect that right, we have five intersecting components— research, policy, education, international health, and clinical work —all of which strive to improve access to reproductive health and family planning services, including contraceptives, abortion services, information, and counseling.

As you may already know, our two-pronged research program, which includes both clinical trials and community-based research, also focuses on understanding how diverse communities view sexuality, reproductive health, childbearing, abortion and contraception, and identifying the relevant variables in pregnancy decision-making. By donating to our research program you can become part of the solution, helping us to identify, develop, and implement real changes that will decrease the number of unplanned pregnancies and increase contraceptive use.

Donations can be made to the Section, to the research program, and to specific on-going studies, such as:

The Postpartum ABCs (Adolescent Birth Control Study), which investigates factors—support systems, partner and family relationships and communication, daily life behaviors, self-esteem and/or depression, and biological factors—that affect repeat pregnancy during in the postpartum period among first-time minority teen moms.

The Contraceptive Use in Young Latinas Study, which explores the influence of knowledge about contraception and pregnancy, financial and access barriers to contraception, and socio-cultural variables (i.e., acculturation, individual and cultural attitudes towards contraception, influence of partners, peers, and family expectations) on sexual initiation and contraceptive use among young Latinas.

The Contraception and Family Planning among Minorities Study, which examines attitudes towards contraception and teen pregnancy among minority adolescents from perspective of parents and teens. The goal of this study is to develop real recommendations for improving 1) teen partner communication about birth control 2) adolescent education about birth control and pregnancy prevention by schools, parents, and the community; and 3) access to and/or use of newer and more effective forms of contraception among teens.

We are grateful for your support and appreciate your taking the time to learn more about the Section of Family Planning and Contraceptive Research at the University of Chicago!