The Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity (SHARE) Program at the UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare, directed by Dr. Anu Manchikanti Gómez, has received new funding from the Society for Family Planning Research Fund to support an innovative study on contraceptive misinformation. This award recognizes SHARE’s leadership in advancing reproductive justice and understanding the social contexts that shape people’s reproductive health decisions.
The new study will explore how young people ages 18–21 interpret and share personal stories about side effects of hormonal contraception, examining how these narratives can evolve into misinformation. By analyzing how lived experiences circulate and gain meaning among peers, the research aims to inform more effective, person-centered communication about contraceptive methods and reproductive health.