Reproductive Justice: A Case-Based, Interactive Curriculum

Abstract

Introduction Reproductive injustices such as forced sterilization, preventable maternal morbidity and mortality, restricted access to family planning services, and policy-driven environmental violence undermine reproductive autonomy and health outcomes, with disproportionate impact on historically marginalized communities. However, curricula focused on reproductive justice (RJ) are lacking in medical education. Methods We designed a novel, interactive, case-based RJ curriculum for postclerkship medical students. This curriculum was created using published guidelines on best practices for incorporating RJ in medical education. The session included a prerecorded video on the history of RJ, an article, and four interactive cases. Students engaged in a 2-hour small-group session, discussing key learning points of each case. We evaluated the curriculum's impact with a pre- and postsurvey and focus group. Results Sixty-eight students participated in this RJ curriculum in October 2020 and March 2021. Forty-one percent of them completed the presurvey, and 46% completed the postsurvey. Twenty-two percent completed both surveys. Ninety percent of respondents agreed that RJ was relevant to their future practice, and 87% agreed that participating in this session would impact their clinical practice. Most respondents (81%) agreed that more RJ content is needed. Focus group participants appreciated the case-based, interactive format and the intersectionality within the cases. Discussion This interactive curriculum is an innovative and effective way to teach medical students about RJ and its relevance to clinical practice. Walking alongside patients as they accessed reproductive health care in a case-based curriculum improved students’ comfort and self-reported knowledge on several RJ topics.

Teaching reproductive justice

“…3 Additionally, Loder et al 4 have identified several components critical to any RJ curriculum: iours in clinical spaces and potential future behaviours. 6 We believe that the added value of the transformative learning theory-informed approach presented here is in its use of self-examination and critical assessment of assumptions. Use of these tools powerfully supports the teaching of element ( 7) of Loder's framework, in addition to generalizable skills in person-centred reproductive health for any patient-facing individual in a range of health professions (medicine, nursing, ancillary health services and beyond).…”

“…Existing published curricula on RJ use individual‐level passive learning methods such as watching videos along with self‐reflection questions 5 and case‐based learning paired with a group discussion about historical and present injustices, previously observed behaviours in clinical spaces and potential future behaviours 6 . We believe that the added value of the transformative learning theory‐informed approach presented here is in its use of self‐examination and critical assessment of assumptions.…”

Effectiveness of Sexual Health Interventions for Nursing Students: A Systematic Review

“…An analysis of educational interventions revealed three main categories, namely one-time interventions (n = 10), workshops (n = 20), and semester courses (n = 6) (see Table 2). Regarding one-time activities, most interventions (n = 7) concentrated on enhancing the SH of the LGBTQ population [38,39,41,45,48,55,59]. However, there was no information available on the speci c principles of SHA models that were included in the intervention curricula.…”

“…Most one-time educational intervention programs (n = 5) lasted two hours and utilized various teaching methods [32,41,45,48,59]. However, three studies did not report on the duration of educational interventions [31,38,55].…”

Reproductive Justice in the U.S. Immigration Detention System

“…Reproductive justice concepts are being integrated into medical education, 23 and at least one published curriculum has included immigration barriers in the context of reproductive rights. 24 Yet, gaps remain in applying the reproductive justice framework to noncitizens and understanding the history of immigration law as a structural determinant of reproductive health for immigrants. Some of the most egregious examples of reproductive control arise within the U.S. immigration detention system, which restricts reproductive autonomy of immigrants on multiple fronts.…”