Marie Larsson
Research Fellow (Qualitative)
- Usher Institute
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Contact details
Address
- Street
-
Usher Institute – University of Edinburgh
Usher Building
5-7 Little France Road
Edinburgh BioQuarter - Gate 3 - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH16 4UX
Background
Marie is postdoctoral researcher at the Usher Institute. She is working on the SCOPE study on enhancing post-abortion contraception in Scotland.
Marie holds a PhD in Sociology from Lund University. Her doctoral research examined "the work of contracepting" and young people's experiences and practices with contraceptives in Sweden.
Qualifications
PhD (Sociology), Lund University
MRes (Sociology), University of Edinburgh
MA Hons (Sociology), University of Edinburgh
Postgraduate teaching
I am teaching on the online and on-campus Master of Public Health dissertation course and the on-campus Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods and Sociology of Health and Illness course.
Research summary
Marie is a sociologist and qualitative researcher. Her research investigates, both empirically and theoretically, contraception (including abortion) as a complex contextually specific bio-social phenomenon.
She is interested in how to improve experiences with contraceptives and abortion and how to enhance access to sexual and reproductive health care across Scotland.
Affiliated research centres
Project activity
The SCOPE study
SCOPE is a project funded by Scottish Government (2024-2025) - seeking to co-design adaptable models for post-abortion contraception (PAC) with the aim of enhancing contraceptive services and patients’ choice of, and access to, contraception in Scotland.
The project is made up of a team of social researchers and clinicians with experience in research on abortion and contraceptive care. The project is co-led by Nicola Boydell and Jeni Harden, with John Reynolds-Wright and Sharon Cameron. Marie Larsson, the SCOPE Research Fellow, is leading the project's research and engagement activities.
Exploring creative methods in contraceptive research
This pilot project is funded by the Moray Endowment Fund (2025) and explores the use of creative methods in contraceptive research to generate new insights into the concept and lived experiences of “contracepting.” This included a guided poetry workshop with researchers, healthcare practitioners and postgraduate students interested in contraception, pregnancy and STI prevention. The project culiminated in an exhibition titled "The Pill. Angry Chuckles. A Poetry Exhibition on Contraceptive Experiences.
Project collaborators include Dr. Autumn Roesch-Marsh from The Binks Hub, Nel Coleman (Library Citizen Science Engagement Officer at the University of Edinburgh), visual artist Cassandra Harrison and The Centre for Research on Families and Intimate Relationships.