Mapping the field of reproductive health and rights using social networks

Reproductive health, defined in 1994 through international consensus, has recently experienced a crisis of identity. This paper presents the results of a study designed to map influence in the field of reproductive health and rights. We identify “opinion leaders” as well as less familiar individuals positioned to influence policy. By identifying influential actors and gauging their assessments of “who matters”, we gain valuable insight into how the field is structured.

Interview data were collected from a purposive sample of 43 individuals identified as senior reproductive health professionals. Using sociometric techniques for mapping position and influence, we asked participants to identify innovators; up-and-coming actors; and persons positioned to link reproductive health and rights to related public health fields.

Connectivity between individuals and institutions was analyzed using social network software. The mapping process identified 338 unique institutions with varying degrees of perceived influence. Respondent data support the notion that institutions in reproductive health and rights are notably heterogeneous in type, and loosely connected rather than hierarchical. Qualitative data on tensions in the field suggest that this loose-knit structure may be attributable to contested definitions of reproductive health and rights, though some actors were clearly identified as being central to the field, with others acting as potential bridges to adjacent policy domains.

Actors within the field of reproductive health and rights can use the dynamism of the field's structure strategically. This potential advantage can be exploited when considering how to position the field as a collective actor relative to other global health agendas.