Marie Larsson

Marie Larsson is a Research Fellow (Qualitative) at the Usher Institute within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She is currently working on the SCOPE study (2024-2025), which is funded by the Scottish Government and focuses on enhancing post-abortion contraception services in Scotland. As the SCOPE Research Fellow, Marie leads the project's research and engagement activities in collaboration with social researchers and clinicians experienced in abortion and contraceptive care.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology from Lund University (2023)
• MRes in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh (2016)
• MA Hons in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh (2015)

Marie is a sociologist and qualitative researcher whose work investigates contraception (including abortion) as a complex contextually specific bio-social phenomenon. Her research examines how to improve experiences with contraceptives and abortion and enhance access to sexual and reproductive health care across Scotland. She employs feminist theory, critical theory, and intersectional approaches to understand contraceptive practices, particularly among young people. Her work bridges sociology, public health, and medical humanities, with emphasis on qualitative methodologies and co-production approaches that involve service users in research design and implementation.

Scientific Awards:

• The Tom Burns Prize (2015)
• The University of Edinburgh UK/EU Master's Scholarship (2015)

Marie teaches on the online Master of Public Health dissertation course and the on-campus Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods course. Her current research focuses on the SCOPE study, which aims to co-design adaptable models for post-abortion contraception to enhance contraceptive services and patients' choice and access to contraception in Scotland. The project is co-led by Nicola Boydell and Jeni Harden, with John Reynolds-Wright and Sharon Cameron.

Marie is affiliated with the Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society and the Centre for Population Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. Her research activities involve interdisciplinary collaboration with social researchers and clinicians across Scotland, bringing together perspectives from sociology, public health, medicine, and feminist theory to address critical issues in sexual and reproductive health services.