M. Antonia Biggs, PhD

Associate Researcher, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences​
Senior Researcher, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH)

Dr. Biggs’ research is dedicated towards better understanding the barriers faced by economically disadvantaged populations in accessing reproductive health services so that policy can be designed to improve their social and health outcomes. Currently, Dr. Biggs is directing a contraceptive training program aimed at increasing delivery of contraceptive care in primary care settings. She is also co-leading an investigation looking at the impact of parental notification laws on minors’ access to abortion services. Dr. Biggs is a researcher for the Turnaway study (primary investigator: Diana Greene Foster), a nationwide longitudinal prospective study of the health and well-being of women who seek abortions, where she is focusing on women’s mental health outcomes post-abortion seeking. Building on her previous work looking at the reasons women engage in unprotected intercourse, Dr. Biggs is launching a new study looking at the reasons adolescent and adult women forgo contraception and engage in unprotected intercourse.

 

Areas of interest:

  • Delivery of long-acting contraceptive services in primary care settings
  • Mental health outcomes of women having abortions
  • Impact of parental notification laws on minors’ access to abortion services
  • Reasons adolescent and adult women forgo contraception and engage in unprotected intercourse

 

Education:

  • University of Wisconsin, Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
  • Boston University, Master's and Doctoral Degrees n Psychology