Linda Quadvlieg

PhD-student and project lead Profile

PhD-student and project lead

Action researcher

My PhD-project focussses on how to improve reproductive health care for people with mild intellectual disabilities and/or psychological vulnerabilities. It includes the topics sexuality, contraception, pregnancy, and early parenthood. I use mainly qualitative research methods, preferably embedded in action research, to work closely with healthcare professionals, researchers, and people with lived experience to develop practical and sustainable improvements in care. I am motivated by the belief that everyone should have access to reproductive health care that meets their needs and supports informed choices. Many people in vulnerable situations face barriers in discussing sensitive topics or accessing appropriate support. Understanding and addressing these barriers is an important step toward reducing health inequalities. What fascinates me most is the intersection of reproductive health, social factors, and healthcare systems. With a background in both midwifery and social sciences, I am particularly interested in how professionals can work together across disciplines to provide better, more person-centred care. My goal is to generate knowledge that leads to meaningful change in daily practice. By doing action and implementation research, I aim to contribute to better reproductive health outcomes and more equitable care. In the project DOEN, we aim to improve knowledge, strengthen professionals and improving collaboration between the medical and social sector we can better support individuals and young families.