About

Ndola Prata is a public health physician and medical demographer from Angola. She earned her medical degree from the University of Angola and an MSc in medical demography from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She began her career practicing medicine in Angola for 10 years and served as Head of the Social Statistics Department at the National Institute of Statistics of Angola. After moving to the US, she became a researcher and lecturer at UC Berkeley, and also served as a Demographer/Analyst for CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health for six years, with a brief return to this role from 2010 to 2011. Her current research is based in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on family planning, abortion, reproductive health, women’s health, empowerment, and maternal mortality. Her work emphasizes the design, implementation, and evaluation of family planning and maternal health interventions that maximize distribution and financing mechanisms to increase access to contraceptives in developing countries, especially for underserved populations. She investigates strategies for harnessing existing resources, including human capacity and healthcare infrastructure, and gathers evidence to inform national health priorities.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Computer Science
• Information Retrieval
• Data science
• Physical therapy
• Gynecology
• Socioeconomics
• World Wide Web
• Internal medicine
• Environmental health
• Obstetrics
• Demography
• Economics

Selected publications

• Return to fertility following the discontinuation of progestin-only contraceptives: a narrative review of the evidence

  Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinical Medicine · 2026-04-02

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Around 8% of sexually active, fertile women wishing to delay or prevent pregnancy have an unmet need for modern family planning. While progestin-only contraceptive methods are highly effective, fear of infertility following use is a barrier to adoption. We conducted this narrative review with a systematic approach to summarise evidence on ‘return to fertility’, with the outcomes of return to ovulation, median or mean time to pregnancy, and pregnancy rates (ability to become pregnant within a year of method discontinuation) following progestin-only contraceptive discontinuation. We searched four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library) for any conference abstracts, original research articles or systematic reviews or meta-analyses published in English through 31 August 2023. We located 9 systematic reviews, 47 original research articles and 4 conference abstracts for oral contraception, injectables, hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. Oral contraception and hormonal IUD users return to ovulation and fertility sooner than injectable and implant users. However, by 1 year after discontinuation, pregnancy rates across methods are similar. While future fertility is a concern of potential modern contraceptive method users and healthcare providers, evidence suggests that individuals using progestin-only contraceptive methods may experience only slight delays in return to fertility following discontinuation and comparable . These results point to the need for continued and new efforts to provide communities with accurate information about contraceptives to dispel myths discouraging their use, and additional research using standard measurements.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Essential yet overlooked

  The Journal of Population and Sustainability · 2026-01-29

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Population dynamics play a pivotal role in development, exacerbating social, economic and environmental challenges. Yet, this factor remains largely understudied in undergraduate curricula in the United States. This study explores the perceptions of University of California (UC) faculty of the concept of population dynamics and its integration into their teaching. Through a mixed-methods approach, it investigates the meanings that faculty associate with this concept, the importance they attribute to it, and the barriers they face in teaching it. Findings reveal that UC faculty across multiple disciplines believe that understanding this topic is essential for college students’ future careers. However, study participants reported that population dynamics were infrequently integrated into undergraduate courses due to their interdisciplinary nature, lack of faculty training in demography and lack of prioritisation by the UC system. Other barriers to teaching this topic include the sensitive nature of associated themes like migration, family planning and gender norms. Our findings suggest that the teaching of this subject, as well as its integration into the curriculum, lacks a systematic and coordinated approach. Its inclusion (or lack thereof) depends largely on individual faculty’s preferences and their level of demographic expertise. The gap between its perceived importance and its representation in the curriculum highlights the need for universities to make a more consistent effort to support faculty in integrating this topic in meaningful ways. Adequate coverage of population dynamics within institutions of higher education will help students to increase awareness and contribute to efforts to address global demographic challenges.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Weight and body mass changes during use of progestin-only contraceptives: A rapid review of recent evidence

  2026-01-15

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Treatment of bleeding changes induced by progestin-only contraceptives: A rapid review of the evidence

  2026-01-05

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Bone mineral density changes during use of progestin-only contraceptives: a rapid review of recent evidence

  AJOG Global Reports · 2025-05-14 · 1 citations

  reviewOpen access

  Objective: The purpose of this paper is to consolidate existing evidence and identify knowledge and research gaps on the bone health effects of progestin-only oral contraception, injectables, hormonal intrauterine devices, and implants. implementation. Data sources: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library for conference abstracts, original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 05 May 2012 and 31 August 2023. Study eligibility criteria: We limited results to any study design published as a conference abstract, original research study, meta-analysis, or systematic review in English-language peer-reviewed journals. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: Two independent reviewers screened item titles. One reviewer read all abstracts and full papers, and a second reviewer confirmed alignment with a 5% sample of each. One reviewer extracted relevant information into Excel with a 5% sample review by another research team member. We reviewed the references for all included items and screened potentially relevant items in the same manner as described above. Subject matter experts contributed additional items. We assessed items using the Mixed Methods Appraisal tool. Results: The search strategy yielded 32 items, most of which explored the use of intra-muscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate 150mg. We found a clear association between any use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and bone mineral density loss. This negative effect seems to be more common among younger women and women on antiretrovirals. There is, however, evidence to suggest that bone loss can be restored after depot medroxyprogesterone acetate discontinuation. Hormonal intrauterine device and implant users do not seem to experience bone mineral density loss. Conclusions: While there is a clear association between bone mineral density loss and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable use, treatment during contraceptive use and bone health restoration following discontinuation are not adequately researched. In this review, we provide evidence that bone health can be partially or completely restored after depot medroxyprogesterone acetate discontinuation, identify opportunities to learn more about depot medroxyprogesterone acetate injectables and bone health during and after use, and find gaps in knowledge on potential associations between bone health and other progestin-only contraceptives.

  PublisherDOI

• Abortion safety in Ghana: does motivation matter?

  BMC Public Health · 2025-10-31 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  INTRODUCTION: In Ghana, abortion is restricted except on a few legal grounds. About 11% of maternal deaths in Ghana are due to unsafe abortion. This study investigated the association between abortion motivation (the primary reason women sought abortion) and abortion safety. METHODS: We analyzed a sample of 1,425 women using the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. Abortion safety was defined using WHO three-level categorization (safe, less safe, least safe) operationalized to the Ghanaian context. We examined the relationship between abortion motivation and abortion safety using multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Legal grounds for abortion accounted for 9% of all abortions. Compared to women who had a legal reason for seeking an abortion, women with non-legal reasons had significantly higher risk of a least safe abortion: women citing education/career advancements had 6.5 times higher odds (95% CI:2.37 - 17.87, p- value: <0.0005); women seeking to delay/limit birth had 4.8 times higher odds (95% CI:1.84-12.56, p-value: 0.001); women citing lack of social support had 4.6 times higher odds (95% CI:1.77-12.07 p-value 0.002); and women who reported financial constraints had 4.8 times higher odds (95% CI:1.85-12.67, p-value: 0.001). CONCLUSION: Women in Ghana who seek abortion for reasons not deemed legal are at a significantly higher risk of obtaining less safe and least safe abortions. Ghana's abortion law should be expanded to include these additional abortion motivations to ensure that women can obtain legal and safe abortions on broader grounds.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Behavioral Innovations to Access Abortion Post-Dobbs: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Reddit’s r/abortion Community in 2022

  INQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing · 2025-06-27

  articleOpen access

  Following the leak of the Dobbs decision in 2022, abortion access in the United States has faced heightened barriers, including legal restrictions, financial constraints, and logistical challenges. In response, individuals seeking abortion care can employ innovative behavioral strategies to overcome these barriers and reshape their abortion experiences (ie, “behavioral innovations”). This paper explores the behavioral innovations to access abortion that people discussed and recommended within a geographically dispersed community of peers on an abortion-supportive Reddit community (r/abortion). Using a hybrid inductive and deductive thematic qualitative analysis approach with a purposive sample of comments in the r/abortion community in 2022 following the Dobbs leak (May-December, n = 131 comments), we identified discussion of abortion access innovations related to getting in-clinic care, self-managed abortion (SMA), funding assistance, privacy, and emotional support. Innovations included sharing online resources for clinic locations, specific travel recommendations to less restrictive states, accessing abortion medications through online services, and navigating the SMA process. Additionally, other less tangible innovations were discussed, including strategies for keeping abortions private and seeking emotional support. Our findings highlight how individuals within the r/abortion community discuss and share creative strategies for navigating the evolving barriers to abortion care. The r/abortion platform serves as a crucial resource for individuals seeking innovative solutions to these barriers, underscoring the need for diverse information-sharing practices to improve access to care as shifting legislation increasingly demands approaches beyond conventional norms.

  PublisherDOI

• Understanding stakeholder perspectives on integrating and sustaining a vertical HIV prevention programme into routine health services in Zimbabwe: a qualitative study

  BMJ Global Health · 2025-08-01

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: The transition of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), an HIV prevention service, in Zimbabwe from a donor-funded to a government-owned programme involves the collective efforts and alignment of national and subnational government leaders, managers, healthcare providers, village health workers, community members, donors and implementing partners. We sought to understand stakeholders' perspectives on barriers, facilitators and recommendations as a vertical HIV prevention programme transitioned to an integrated, government-led model. METHODS: We conducted 54 semistructured stakeholder interviews at the national and subnational levels. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. RESULTS: Participants highlighted a range of psychological and structural barriers and facilitators to integrating and sustaining the VMMC programme. Respondents mentioned financing and staffing barriers to integration, particularly a lack of domestic resources, the transition from a fee-for-service to a facility-based performance model and staff attrition. Notably, resistance to changing the VMMC programme's operations was a significant barrier that may be tied to individual psychological barriers such as loss of power and job security. Donors and partners continued to control the funding for VMMC. Ideally, the Ministry of Health and Child Care should have more autonomy over these decisions. At the subnational level, there is an opportunity for increased responsibility and a greater sense of ownership through the decentralisation of governance. CONCLUSIONS: To ensure successful integration and local ownership of VMMC as an HIV prevention programme, stakeholders must address both psychological and structural barriers while aligning their perspectives on the transition. Individual providers have valid concerns about their financial security and the burden of additional responsibilities without adequate compensation. It is crucial for donors and partners to reduce their involvement and oversight. Additionally, resolving the financial barriers that prevent the government from having complete control of the programme will require empowering local government stakeholders to fully take ownership.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Impact of Air Quality on Patient Mortality: A National Study

  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2025-07-16 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: Air pollution is a risk factor for a variety of cardiopulmonary diseases and is a contributing factor to cancer, diabetes, and cognitive impairment. The impact on mortality is not clearly elucidated. Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine the impact (if any) of air pollution on the 5-year mortality of patients in the American Family Cohort (AFC) dataset. Methods: The AFC dataset is derived from the American Board of Family Medicine PRIME Registry electronic health record data. It includes longitudinal information from 6.6 million unique patients from an estimated 800 primary care practices across 47 states, with 40% coming from rural areas. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) measures were downloaded for the study period (2016–2022). Using the Python library pandas, the AFC and EPA datasets were merged with respect to date, time, and location. Cox Regression Models were performed on the merged dataset to determine the impact (if any) of air quality on patients’ five-year survival. In the model, AQI was handled as a time-independent (time-fixed) covariate. Results: The group with AQI &gt; 50 had an adjusted hazard of death that was 4.02 times higher than the hazard of death in the group with AQI ≤ 50 (95% CI: 3.36, 4.82, p &lt; 0.05). The hazard of death was 6.73 times higher in persons older than 80 years of age (95% CI: 5.47, 8.28; p &lt; 0.05) compared to those younger than 80 years of age. Black/African American patients had a 4.27 times higher hazard of death (95%CI: 3.47, 5.26; p &lt; 0.05) compared to other races. We also found that regional effects played a role in survival. Conclusions: Poor air quality was associated with a higher hazard of mortality, and this phenomenon was particularly pronounced in Black/African American patients and patients older than 80 years of age. Air pollution is an important social determinant of health. Public health initiatives that improve air quality are necessary to improve health outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Behavioral Innovations to Access Abortion Post-Dobbs: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Reddit’s r/abortion Community in 2022

  UNC Libraries · 2025-07-10

  articleOpen access

  Following the leak of the Dobbs decision in 2022, abortion access in the United States has faced heightened barriers, including legal restrictions, financial constraints, and logistical challenges. In response, individuals seeking abortion care can employ innovative behavioral strategies to overcome these barriers and reshape their abortion experiences (ie, "behavioral innovations"). This paper explores the behavioral innovations to access abortion that people discussed and recommended within a geographically dispersed community of peers on an abortion-supportive Reddit community (r/abortion). Using a hybrid inductive and deductive thematic qualitative analysis approach with a purposive sample of comments in the r/abortion community in 2022 following the <em>Dobbs</em> leak (May-December, n&thinsp;=&thinsp;131 comments), we identified discussion of abortion access innovations related to getting in-clinic care, self-managed abortion (SMA), funding assistance, privacy, and emotional support. Innovations included sharing online resources for clinic locations, specific travel recommendations to less restrictive states, accessing abortion medications through online services, and navigating the SMA process. Additionally, other less tangible innovations were discussed, including strategies for keeping abortions private and seeking emotional support. Our findings highlight how individuals within the r/abortion community discuss and share creative strategies for navigating the evolving barriers to abortion care. The r/abortion platform serves as a crucial resource for individuals seeking innovative solutions to these barriers, underscoring the need for diverse information-sharing practices to improve access to care as shifting legislation increasingly demands approaches beyond conventional norms.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Karen Weidert

  28 shared

• Farnaz Vahidnia

  Vitalant

  22 shared

• Suzanne O. Bell

  Johns Hopkins University

  20 shared

• Quique Bassat

  Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red

  19 shared

• Martine Holston

  18 shared

• Elizabeth Pleasants

  18 shared

• Amanuel Gessessew

  18 shared

• Elizio Mazive

  Drexel University

  16 shared

Labs

• Bixby Center for Population, Health and SustainabilityPI

Awards & honors

• Fred H. Bixby Endowed Chair in Population and Family Plannin…