Courtney Henderson, DrPH student
Courtney completed a research project in collaboration with World Health Partners (WHP), an Indian non-governmental organization that provides health services to rural communities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India. WHP uses a telemedicine model, whereby local “sky health” centers are developed in rural areas in hopes of increasing access to health services for the rural poor. These centers are responsible for the provision of basic health services and medications. In addition, these centers have the ability to connect individuals who are experiencing serious health conditions to physicians based in Delhi via telemedicine.
The primary project she conducted was a qualitative research investigation into women’s perceptions, enabling factors, and barriers to access and use of non-permanent family planning methods (including oral contraceptive pills, injectable contraceptives, and intra-uterine devices). In-depth interviews were conducted with 52 current clients of family planning services, who reside in the Districts of Meerut and Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, India. Research findings will be used to inform future programmatic activities of World Health Partners.