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CSDE Seminar Series

Population Research Discovery Seminars

"Contraceptive Use Can Increase the Love between Husband and Wife.": Six Years of Research on the Rwandan Family Planning Program

Hilary Schwandt, Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Western Washington University


Parrington Hall Room 360

To Join By Zoom: Register HERE

Follow this link to sign up for a 1:1 meeting with Dr. Schwandt during their visit on January 10th

01/10/2025
12:30-1:30 PM PT

360 Parrington Hall

Co-Sponsor(s):

Population Health Initiative

This talk is based on findings from six years of research, funded by two NSF REUs, on the family planning program in Rwanda with undergraduates from the USA and Rwanda. This presentation will focus specially on the findings and lessons learned each year – and how those informed each subsequent summer of data collection.


Hilary Schwandt is a Professor at Fairhaven College at Western Washington University. Hilary earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research primarily focuses on reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa – particularly in the area of family planning. Most recently, with her colleague in Sociology, she was awarded two consecutive grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct research on Rwanda’s family planning program. At Fairhaven, Hilary teaches classes in the areas of sexual health, pregnancy and childbirth, nutrition, and population health. In her free time, Hilary enjoys spending time outdoors with her 4 daughters and 3 dogs.