Sexual and Reproductive Health – Marie Klingberg-Allvin research group

The Sexual and Reproductive Health research group advances SRHR through evidence-based research, policy engagement, and capacity building. Working across humanitarian, low-resource, and high-income settings, the group generates knowledge to strengthen health systems and promote equitable care. Key focus areas include pregnancy, delivery, abortion care, contraception, menstrual health, and midwifery. The group emphasizes midwife-led care models, quality improvement, and addressing the SRHR needs

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About our research 

The Sexual and Reproductive Health research group focuses on advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through evidence-based research, policy engagement, and capacity building. The group works across diverse global contexts—spanning humanitarian, low-resource, and high-income settings—to generate knowledge that informs practice, strengthens health systems, and promotes equitable access to care. Capacity building is a core component of the group’s work, with strong partnerships to support the development of local research expertise, midwifery leadership, and sustainable health system improvements in both global and national settings.

Research areas

The research addresses critical areas such as pregnancy, delivery, comprehensive abortion care including contraception, menstrual health, and the role of midwifery. The group employs a broad range of study designs and methods and interdisciplinary collaboration in countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, and Canada. A key focus is on enhancing midwife-led care models, improving quality of care, and addressing the unique SRHR needs of marginalized populations, including migrants and youth.

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Menstrual Health

Menstrual health across the life course refers to the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to the menstrual cycle, from menarche (the first period) through the reproductive years, and into perimenopause and menopause. It encompasses not only the absence of menstrual-related disorders but also the ability to access accurate information, appropriate care, supportive environments, and dignified management of menstruation at every stage of life. Our group explores how menstrual health is experienced at various life stages, particularly among marginalized populations such as migrants and those affected by female genital mutilation, to inform inclusive and responsive health interventions. We further have a specific focus on Youth SRH which encompasses how oppressed SRHR impacts the health, gender equality, and equity of young people in Sweden.

List of on-going research projects:

  • Inequities in sexual and menstrual health among young people in Sweden
  • Sexual and reproductive justice – exploring honour-based violence among young people in Sweden and co-creation of public health interventions with end-user and stakeholder involvement
  • Menstrual health among women with experience of female genital mutilation/cutting
  • Experiences of Peri and Menopause transition among women in Sweden
  • Breaking Barriers: Advancing Research on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding, Treatment Access and Education in Somaliland

 

diagram over Menstrual Health
Figure credit: Head et al. (2023) Head, A., Huggett, C., Chea, P., Suttor, H., Yamakoshi, B., and Hennegan, J. 2023. Menstrual Health in East Asia and the Pacific: Regional Progress Review. Melbourne: United Nations Children’s Fund, Burnet Institute and Water Aid.

MIDCAP

Empowering Midwives. Advancing SRHR through Midwifery-Led Research.
#Midwives4All

The Midwifery Capacity Development (MIDCAP) initiative strengthens midwifery education and practice through research, enabling midwives to work autonomously and take leadership in delivering high-quality care.

Through rights-based collaboration, co-created education, and embedded research, the program builds competence, confidence, and leadership among midwives to advance equitable, person-centred SRHR for all.

Operating in a global and interdisciplinary context, fostering local ownership, co-creation, and long-term partnerships between Karolinska Institutet and partner universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, and Somaliland.

  • Co-created education aligned with local priorities and global standards.
  • Embedded research to strengthen evidence-based policy and practice.
  • Stigma-free, rights-based care models that promote dignity, equity, and trust.
  • Leadership development to empower midwives as educators, researchers, and advocates for SRHR.

The MIDCAP approach ensures contextually relevant and sustainable outcomes, enhancing maternal and newborn health and advancing gender equality within health systems. 

  • Aim: Strengthen midwives’ competence, leadership, and research capacity in SRHR.
  • Approach: Co-created education, embedded research, and sustainable partnerships.
  • Outcomes: Stronger midwifery systems, improved SRHR, and reduced maternal and newborn mortality.

Strengthening midwifery is key to improving outcomes for women, newborns, and families all over the world. Well-educated and supported midwives play a crucial role in providing essential SRHR services and reducing preventable deaths, especially in fragile and resource-limited settings. 

Menopause and later life Menstrual Health

Building on a life-course perspective, the research group has expanded its focus to include menopause as a critical yet under-researched phase of menstrual health. This work is conducted in collaboration with Swedish research groups and national stakeholders, including the Public Health Agency of Sweden, and focuses on providing:

  • Access to evidence-based menopause care and support
  • Symptom management and quality of life
  • Health system responsiveness and models of care
  • Social and work-related implications of menopause

This research positions menopause as both a clinical and public health priority, highlighting the need for integrated, person-centred, and equitable care pathways.

Interdisciplinary Approach and Research Capacity

The Klingberg-Allvin Research Group is interdisciplinary, with expertise spanning:

  • Health systems and service delivery
  • Health policy and implementation research
  • Health economics and the use of resources in healthcare
  • Quality of care and person-centred care
  • Clinical and population-based studies

The team has extensive experience in women’s health and SRHR, with a strong emphasis on equity, access, and quality of care across diverse settings.

Cross-cultural perspective on Respectful Maternity Care

Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is a cornerstone of high-quality intrapartum care, characterised by responsiveness to women’s needs, adequate support, informed consent, and respect for autonomy in decision-making. In recent years, significant attention has been directed toward the widespread occurrence of disrespect and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth. Such mistreatment may include discrimination, neglect, non-consensual procedures, physical or verbal abuse, and unnecessary obstetric interventions. These practices can have serious consequences for women’s health, contributing to emotional trauma, fear of childbirth, and depression. Mistreatment and abusive care disproportionately affect women with migrant backgrounds, women of Black ethnicity, and those with lower socioeconomic position, highlighting persistent inequities in maternity care. Our research group examines how RMC is experienced, implemented, and supported for Somali women in both Sweden and Somaliland across cross-cultural contexts, and its potential to strengthen person-centred care, promote equality, and enhance decision-making autonomy. 

List of on-going research projects: 

  • Prevalence and determinants of respectful and disrespectful maternity care among Somali women in Sweden and Somaliland.
  • Experiences of key aspects of respectful and disrespectful maternity care in Sweden and Somaliland, including the influence of cross-cultural, pre- and post-migration contexts. 
  • How organisational structures and healthcare provider perspectives within Swedish and Somali maternity care enable or constrain the delivery of respectful maternity care. 
Keywords:
Abortion, Induced Childbirth and Maternity care Contraception Epidemiology Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine Show all
Content reviewer:
Marie Klingberg Allvin
07-04-2026