My PhD Title: What is the unmet need for essential sexual and reproductive healthcare in inclusion health women in the UK and how can services be developed to address this
Supervisors: Prof Andrew Hayward, Dr Rob Aldridge, Prof Pam Sonnenberg
Lay summary: Sexual health and wellbeing is a fundamental human right. The Guttmacher-Lancet commission on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) defines 7 domains of essential SRHR that must be provided universally by health systems: gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), contraception, maternal and newborn health, abortion, infertility, and reproductive cancers.
Inclusion health is a growing field that aims to address inequity in healthcare for people experiencing extreme levels of social exclusion. These include homeless people, prisoners, migrants, and sex workers. These groups are frequently underserved by health services and have worse overall health that people living in deprived areas.
As regional deprivation is associated with poorer SRHR outcomes in the UK, it is likely that inclusion health groups are likely to have even worse outcomes and greater need for targeted intervention. However, this is not known as they are routinely excluded from evaluations of SRHR as surveys and surveillance systems typically rely on having a fixed postcode and GP registration.
This PhD seeks to understand the unmet need for SRHR in homeless women through a combination of big data science and primary data collection as well as investigate how services could improve to serve these women.
My Background I am a doctor specialising in community sexual and reproductive health at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS trust. Sexual and reproductive health is a fundamental human right. My research and clinical work focuses on reducing inequalities in my specialty for people that are underserved by our healthcare system. I am driven by a desire to advocate for those who are not seen or heard, practise evidence-based medicine, and integrate data science with public health research.
Qualifications
MA (Cantab)
MB BS
DFSRH
Awards
BRC PPI Innovation Grant 2018
Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship 2017
RCOG Edgar Gentilli Prize for Cancer Research 2015
Cosmopolitan Magazine Ultimate 'Game Changer' Award 2014
Publications
Please use this link for up to date publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1077-5358
Appointments
Cochrane UK & Ireland Trainee Advisory Group Committee Member
Trainee rep for SWIFT-women
Specialty trainee in Community Sexual & Reproductive Health
Sexual & Reproductive Health Voluntary Advisor at the Helen Bamber Foundation
Member of the Centre for Public Health Data Science
Contact details Twitter: @DrNehaPathak