Leigh’s dissertation is titled “Conceptions and Measurement of Contraceptive Autonomy” and was completed in 2019. 

The goal of this project is to develop multi-dimensional new family planning indicators that measure women’s autonomy and rights in the provision of family planning services, rather than simple contraceptive uptake or method use.  This project uses a reproductive justice framework that incorporates an analysis of the structural factors that mediate women’s ability to have the families they want (including but not limited to sexism, racism, and postcolonial power dynamics).

Leigh's dissertation uses a sequential mixed-methods study design that includes a formative qualitative phase as well as a large-scale quantitative survey.  This project has been generously funded by grants from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the University of Heidelberg, and the Society of Family Planning.

The full dissertation is currently under embargo, but chapters of this dissetation have been published in Social Science and Medicine and Studies in Family Planning.