Brooke Whitfield

Dr. Brooke Whitfield is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at REAL, where she works on the Reproductive Health Experiences and Access (RHEA) project.  A social demographer by training, Dr. Whitfield conducts policy-relevant research focused on advancing reproductive equity for all, with expertise in the experiences and needs of minors and adolescents. Her work uses mixed-methods approaches to examine how young people in the U.S. navigate restrictive policy environments and complex information ecosystems to learn about and access sexual and reproductive healthcare.

Dr. Whitfield holds a B.A. in Public Policy and Global Health from Duke University and a Ph.D. in Sociology and Demography from the University of Texas at Austin.

What do you collect?
I collect a mug from every place I visit and now have an entire wall in my kitchen dedicated to displaying them!

What is your favorite thing to nerd out about?
Lemurs! I know an absurd amount about them thanks to my time as a tour guide at the Duke Lemur Center (the largest collection of lemurs outside Madagascar!). Ask me for a fun fact.

What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
Paddle boarding and camping with my pup, Lu.

Selected Scholarship

Critical Gaps in US Adolescent and Young Adult Contraceptive Knowledge

Brooke Whitfield, Ci’erra Larsen, Riley J. Steiner (Journal of Adolescent Health)

• Key Takeaways: Using a national survey of over 1,200 adolescent and young adults (AYA) assigned female at birth in the United States, this study examined AYA contraceptive knowledge. Findings showed that AYA answered less than half of the contraceptive knowledge questions correctly, and that knowledge varied by demographic characteristics. Misconceptions related to the necessity of taking breaks from birth control pills, the effectiveness of menstrual cycle tracking apps, and differences between abortion and contraception were particularly prevalent. Findings mirror knowledge gaps documented among AYA more than 15 years ago, underscoring that contraceptive AYA knowledge should be a public health priority.

Demand for Abortion Training in Higher Education for Students Pursuing Careers in Sexual and Reproductive Health

Brooke Whitfield, Subasri Narasimhan, Candice Gary, Roger Rochat, Anna Newton-Levinson (American Journal of Sexuality Education)

• Key Takeaways: This study used pilot data from a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): Public Health Approaches to Abortion to examine receipt of abortion education among students in the Southeast who are pursuing higher education and preparing for careers in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Findings reveal that students interested in SRH careers often lack comprehensive knowledge about abortion and report a large unmet need for abortion education. Many emphasized that formal, evidence-based abortion education would better equip them for their future roles and ultimately lead to improved outcomes for the patients and communities they serve.