Megan Kavanaugh, Senior Research Associate

Megan Kavanaugh, DrPH, joined the Guttmacher Institute in 2008 as a Charlotte Ellertson Social Science Postdoctoral Fellow. In January 2010, she was brought on as a senior research associate. Dr. Kavanaugh is currently leading two national studies on postabortion contraception in the United States. In addition, her fellowship research focuses on community attitudes toward motherhood and abortion in the context of HIV epidemics in Nigeria and Zambia. Her past research includes qualitative explorations of contextual factors that impact the experience and management of unintended pregnancy among low-income, minority and young women. She has also conducted research on emergency contraceptive services in a variety of settings and on prospective assessments of pregnancy intentions. In 2006, Dr. Kavanaugh was awarded the Gary Stewart Scholarship for Research in Public Health from the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. She earned DrPH and MPH degrees with specializations in behavioral and community health at the Graduate School of Public Health and a master’s certificate in women’s studies, all from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BS in bioengineering from Cornell University. Dr. Kavanaugh is a member of the American Public Health Association, the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, the Population Association of America and the Society of Family Planning.

Recent publications include:

Kavanaugh ML, Lindberg LD and Frost JJ, Factors influencing partners' involvement in women's contraceptive services, Contraception, 2012, 85(1):83-90.

Kavanaugh ML et al., Characteristics of women in the United States who use long-acting reversible contraceptive methods, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2011, 117(6):1349-1357.

Jones RK and Kavanaugh ML, Changes in abortion rates between 2000 and 2008 and lifetime incidence of abortion, Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2011, 117(6):1358-1366.

Norris A et al., Abortion stigma: a reconceptualization of constituents, causes, and consequences, Women's Health Issues, 2011, 21(3):S49-S54.

Kavanaugh ML, Jones RK and Finer LB, Perceived and insurance-related barriers to the provision of contraceptive services in U.S. abortion care settings, Women's Health Issues, 2011, 21(3):S26-S31.

Kavanaugh ML, Carlin EE and Jones RK, Patients’ attitudes and experiences related to receiving contraception during abortion care, Contraception, 2011, 84(6):585-593.

Kavanaugh ML, Williams SL and Schwarz EB, Emergency contraception use and counseling after changes in United States prescription status, Fertility and Sterility, 2011, 98(8):2578-2581.

Kavanaugh ML, Jones RK and Finer LB, How commonly do U.S. abortion clinics offer contraceptive services?, Contraception, 2010, 82(4):331-336.

Kavanaugh ML and Schwarz EB, Prospective assessment of pregnancy intentions using a single vs. multi-item measure, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2009, 41(4):238–243.

Schwarz EB, Kavanaugh ML, Douglas E, Dubowitz T and Creinin MD, Interest in intrauterine contraception among seekers of emergency contraception and pregnancy testing, Obstetrics & Gynecology , 2009,113(4):833–839.

Kavanaugh ML, Saladino RA and Gold MA, Emergency contraception services for adolescents: a national survey of children’s hospital emergency department directors, Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 2009, 22(2):111–119.

Kavanaugh ML and Schwarz EB, Counseling about and use of emergency contraception in the United States, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health , 2008, 40(2):81–86.