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An Emerging Field in Religion and Reproductive Health

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Abstract

Separate from scholarship in religion and medicine, a burgeoning field in religion and population health, includes religion and reproductive health. In a survey of existing literature, we analyzed data by religious affiliation, discipline, geography and date. We found 377 peer-reviewed articles; most were categorized as family planning (129), sexual behavior (81), domestic violence (39), pregnancy (46), HIV/AIDS (71), and STDs (61). Most research occurred in North America (188 articles), Africa (52), and Europe (47). Article frequency increased over time, from 3 articles in 1980 to 38 articles in 2008. While field growth is evident, there is still no cohesive “scholarship” in religion and reproductive health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Policy & Management, Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Laura M. Gaydos

  2. Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA

    Alexandria Smith

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Carol J. R. Hogue

  4. Department of Global Health, Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA

    John Blevins

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  1. Laura M. Gaydos
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  2. Alexandria Smith
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  3. Carol J. R. Hogue
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  4. John Blevins
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Correspondence to Laura M. Gaydos.

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Drs. Laura Gaydos PhD, Carol Hogue PhD, MPH and John Blevins are faculty members at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. All three authors are investigators with the Emory Religion and Public Health Collaborative, specializing in issues of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. Ms. Smith is a health services researcher with the RAND Corporation.

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Gaydos, L.M., Smith, A., Hogue, C.J.R. et al. An Emerging Field in Religion and Reproductive Health. J Relig Health 49, 473–484 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9323-1

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