UVic researchers strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights
Around the world, the rates of sexually transmitted infections are increasing, reproductive rights are being threatened, and a backlash against the human rights of trans and gender diverse communities is taking place. The urgent need for advancements in sexual and reproductive health and rights and more public health measures has led to the formation of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Aspiration Research Cluster at the 番茄社区 (UVic). This initiative brings together 18 health professionals and researchers dedicated to addressing these critical issues through comprehensive health and education programs.
Health professionals leading the SRHR cluster include infectious disease researcher Caroline Cameron, public health researcher Renée Monchalin and public administration researcher Astrid V. Pérez Piñán. Their collaborative work on the new research projects and initiatives within SRHR seeks to improve sexual health outcomes by reducing stigma, raising awareness of and reducing social and racial inequalities, and contributing to the United Nations sustainable development goal of ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services.
“Our plan is to take a three-pronged approach to addressing the issue of sexual and reproductive health and rights, focusing on biomedical prevention strategies, public health measures, and justice for marginalized communities,” says Cameron. “Our group includes researchers with a diverse range of expertise, which is needed to create comprehensive solutions that can advance SRHR in Canada and beyond.”
Biomedical advances to sexual and reproductive health
Some cluster members are taking a biomedical approach to SRHR, striving to better understand the bacteria, viruses and human systems that are involved in a variety of sexually transmitted infections and reproductive disorders. This understanding could lead to preventative approaches to improving sexual and reproductive health.
Caroline Cameron, a professor in the Faculty of Science, has devoted her career to investigating Treponema pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis. Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection, is on the rise, with millions of new cases occurring worldwide every year. Cameron’s lab focuses on investigating the molecular interactions that enable Treponema pallidum to rapidly and efficiently invade host tissue, persist and cause devastating symptoms. The research team is developing new diagnostic tests that will allow syphilis to be diagnosed more easily and accurately, as well as novel vaccine candidates that could help prevent syphilis infections from even occurring.
Biologist Nicole Templeman also brings a biological perspective to the cluster, focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms that link metabolic health to female reproductive health. Templeman studies age-related and diet-induced changes to the female reproductive system as well as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder estimated to affect about 10 per cent of women worldwide whose symptoms can include disrupted hormone levels, irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. Her research group is currently examining whether preventing an elevation in insulin levels can effectively slow age-related female reproductive decline and protect against the progression and severity of PCOS. Her hope is that the research could inform strategies to better manage these under-studied aspects of female reproductive health.
Community-based solutions for better public health
While Cameron and Templeman are working on the biological level, other researchers are addressing health concerns related to sexual and reproductive health by working at the level of populations. This means focusing on understanding and influencing public health through community-based approaches to enhance sexual and reproductive health.
Renée Monchalin, an assistant professor in public health and social policy at UVic, conducts community-based research in collaboration with Public Administration Assistant Professor Astrid V. Pérez Piñán. Their work focuses on improving access to abortion services and support for Indigenous women, Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ people in Canada. While Canada currently has no national laws restricting abortion, many people still experience a lack of access due to cost, knowledge and geography. For folks from marginalized communities, additional barriers, such as colonialism and racism, may also exist. Through their research, Monchalin and Pérez Piñán hope to build on existing community knowledge and strengths and remove barriers to abortion services for these communities.
“Effective public health research cannot be done in isolation,” says Monchalin. “It’s critical that our work is community led and driven to ensure that’s it’s relevant, impactful and truly addresses the needs and priorities identified by those most affected.”
Nathan Lachowsky has also adopted a community-based approach in his research. The public health and social policy professor’s focus is on filling knowledge gaps in sexual and reproductive health in queer communities in Canada. The 2S/LGBTQQIA+ community is often overlooked in mainstream sexual and reproductive health research and current public health surveillance, limiting our knowledge of their sexual and reproductive health status, access and care. Lachowsky aims to fill these knowledge gaps and use these data to identify population level inequities and advance community-driven, evidence-based advocacy and efforts to change policy. He is closely partnered with the non-profit on this work.
Working towards equity, diversity and inclusion in SRHR research
While the concepts of equity, diversity and inclusion are built into the research programs of all members of the SRHR cluster, for some, it’s the main focus. Researchers across disciplines are studying reproductive rights in both historical and contemporary contexts and exploring how a better understanding of the experiences of different communities, the outcomes of gender-based policies, and the impacts of structures of power can help us move towards justice related to sexual and reproductive health.
Sujin Lee is an assistant professor of Pacific and Asian Studies whose research centers on the politics of reproductive rights in modern and contemporary Japan. She is interested in how interlinked structures of power have shaped and regulated both reproductive and non-reproductive experiences, including abortion, sterilization and birth control. In her current research, Lee delves into the discourse surrounding Japan’s Eugenic Protection Law (1948-1996) to illuminate the complexity of abortion rights situated at the crossroads between the state’s population control policy and women’s bodily autonomy. She also discusses feminist and disability movements’ efforts to challenge the eugenic underpinnings of abortion rights in pursuit of more inclusive reproductive justice.
Gillian Calder, a UVic professor of law, studies structures of power and is asking big questions about the role that intersecting legal regimes play in our understanding of equality. One area of her research focuses on the role that Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms—the equality provisions—plays in sexual and reproductive health. Her current work considers the delivery of social benefits, such as maternity and paternity leave and bereavement leave for miscarriage and stillbirth, with attention to the role that law plays in regulating our understanding of the family.
The SRHR research cluster at UVic, comprising 18 researchers from diverse disciplines committed to community-based research and equity, is proving that enhanced public health education on sexual and reproductive health and rights is not only possible but achievable.
Nicole Crozier