Paul Whittaker, DPhil

CPHI Adjunct Fellow

Title: Associate Director of Research - Family Planning Council
Email: paulw@familyplanning.org

Public Health Interests:

Contraception, Sexual relationships, Sexually transmitted disease, Family planning services, Health behavior change, Health Provider behavior

Current Public-Health Related Activities:

I manage diverse research projects on contraception, sexual relationships, pregnancy and disease prevention amongst teens and young adults, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. I also evaluate Family Planning Council programs and services in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Current federally – funded projects include

• communication about contraception between partners
• exploration of influences on hormonal contraceptive adherence
• assessment amongst providers and patients of natural methods of family planning
• adaptation of an evidence-based intervention with providers to improve clinic rates of HIV testing
• implementation of new methods to improve male involvement in reproductive health services.

Select Publications:

Hock-Long L, Herceg-Baron R, Cassidy AM, Whittaker PG (2003) Access to adolescent reproductive health services: Financial and structural barriers to care. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 35: 144-147.

Whittaker PG, Berger M, Armstrong, KA, Felice TL, Adams J (2007) Characteristics associated with emergency contraception use by family planning patients: a prospective cohort study. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 39: 158–166.

Merkh RD, Whittaker PG, Baker K, Hock-Long L, Armstrong K (2009) Young men’s understanding of female hormonal contraception. Contraception, 79: 228-235

Whittaker PG, Merkh RD, Henry-Moss D, Hock-Long L (2010) Withdrawal attitudes and experiences: a qualitative perspective among young urban adults. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, in press