Kate Coleman-Minahan
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About Kate
Coleman-Minahan’s research focuses on reproductive health disparities among marginalized women, particularly adolescents and immigrants. First, she uses an intersectional framework that includes structural disadvantage, gender inequality, and cultural processes to examine women’s reproductive health decision-making. Second, she investigates how policy and clinical practice impact access to and quality of contraceptive and abortion care.
Coleman-Minahan provides primary care to young mothers and their children at the Young Mother’s Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She also volunteers with immigrant advocacy groups such as the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and Servicios de La Raza.
Contributions
Eliminate Forced Parental Involvement in Contraception and Abortion
The Process of Seeking a Judicial Bypass for Abortion May Harm Adolescents
In the News
Publications
Describes development and validation of the Brief Social Capital for Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Scale using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis with survey data from a low-income, diverse race/ethnic group of youth in Colorado.
Using mixed qualitative and quantitative data and an intersectional framework, results suggests that gender inequality and sexual expectations in Mexican-origin households are associated with structural inequality and, challenging a stereotypical “traditional Latino culture”, household gender inequality increases risk of early sexual initiation.
Explores how gender inequality and sexual expectations are both influenced by structural factors and affect reproductive health outcomes.
Assesses women's preferences for contraception after delivery and compares use with preferences.
Uses data from a prospective cohort study of 803 Texas women to examine prenatal and postpartum contraceptive counseling. Results suggest that prenatal and postpartum contraceptive counseling on IUDs and implants occur infrequently among the study sample and vary by sociodemographic characteristics, including women’s socioeconomic status and where they received prenatal care (private vs. public practice).
Uses logistic regression models to predict the odds of intentions to have sex and sexual experience, adding covariates that could account for differences in outcomes by immigrant generation. Results suggest that first generation immigrant youth of diverse race/ethnic groups have lower risk of early sexual initiation than second and third generation youth and that a supportive community may decrease risk of early sexual initiation.
Examines the influence of older siblings on reproductive health of Mexican-origin immigrant women. Data suggest that older siblings may protect younger sisters from risky sexual behaviors through older siblings’ responsibility and care for younger siblings, close and supportive sibling relationships, older siblings’ advice about both sexual health and academic success, and sibling modeling.