Women's Health

The Institute for Health & Aging's (IHA) work in women’s health prioritizes women’s autonomy and equitable access to healthcare. IHA collaborates with partners locally and internationally to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes, particularly for adolescent girls, young women and those living with HIV. Key efforts include enhancing contraceptive counseling, reducing pregnancy-related mortality, improving menopause care for women with HIV and supporting community-driven, youth-friendly approaches for delivering sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. IHA is committed to reducing health disparities, especially among marginalized populations. These projects aim to inform policies and practices that enhance access to care.

Projects

AmbassADDOrs for Health: Supporting Young Women's Health through Girl-Friendly Drug Vendors (ADDO) 

This project evaluates adolescent girls and young women (AGYW)-friendly drug shops in Tanzania to increase access to HIV prevention and SRH services, assessing the model's effectiveness in reducing HIV and unintended pregnancies. 

AmbassADDOrs For Health Website

California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (CA-PAMR) 

CA-PAMR reviews maternal deaths in California with the goal of reducing pregnancy-related mortality and addressing health inequities, providing actionable insights for policy and practice. 

More Information on CA-PAMR

Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research (FOR) Kenya 

FOR Kenya trains adolescent girls in SRH research, developing models for meaningful engagement in low-resource settings to enhance SRH programming. 

Innovations for Choice and Autonomy (ICAN) 

ICAN, supported by the Gates Foundation, advances women’s autonomy in SRH, focusing on informed contraceptive choice across five countries to develop scalable, culturally tailored interventions. 

ICAN Website

Innovations in Counseling and Follow-up (ICAF) 

Funded by the Gates Foundation, ICAF develops enhanced contraceptive decision-making and side effects management to support women’s preferences in Ethiopia and Kenya. 

ICAF Website

Investigating a Novel ART Adherence Strategy – Harnessing Fertility Desires Among Women with HIV in Kenya 

This study explores how fertility desires impact ART adherence among women with HIV in Kenya, developing knowledge modules to address these links. 

Predicting and Characterizing “Youth-Friendliness” in Tanzanian Drug Shops Using Natural Language and Audio Processing Methods 

Using NLP and audio analysis, this study evaluates the youth-friendliness of services provided to AGYW in Tanzanian drug shops, aiming to improve service quality.

Reimagining Follow-Up Contraceptive Care: Understanding People’s Preferences for Side Effects Support 

This study gathers in-depth insights from BIPOC communities to design responsive contraceptive care that addresses side effects in a supportive and bias-free environment. 

More Information on Reimagining Follow-Up Contraceptive Care

Reproductive Justice in California’s Women’s Prisons: Racism, Eugenics, and Regulatory Constraints 

Examining reproductive oppression in California prisons, this project explores forced sterilizations and the need for abolitionist reforms to protect incarcerated women’s reproductive rights. 

SAFARI-Girls: Studying the Application of AI in Recognizing Inclusivity in Swahili Texts for Girl-Friendliness 

This research integrates Swahili NLP expertise in machine learning to assess inclusivity and identify youth-friendliness in SRH services at Tanzanian drug shops. 

Supporting Young Women’s Reproductive Health by Harnessing Prosociality Among Drug Shopkeepers 

This project tests strategies to sustain SRH services for AGYW in Tanzanian drug shops, enhancing a loyalty program for drug shopkeepers. 

Understanding Management of Menopausal Symptoms for Women Living with HIV: A Qualitative Study 

This study investigates menopausal symptom management for women with HIV at ZSFG's Ward 86, examining attitudes toward hormone therapy and ART adherence.

Understanding Perceptions About Infertility Among Men and Women of Reproductive Age and the Providers Who Care for Them in Tanzania 

This project investigates beliefs and awareness around infertility in Tanzania, aiming to educate about STIs and reduce misconceptions. 

Understanding Provider Management of Menopausal Symptoms for Women Living with HIV: A Qualitative Study 

This study assesses how HIV care providers manage menopause symptoms in women living with HIV, addressing training needs and gaps in care.