Dr Nicolás Fernández Barra MD, OB/GYN, MPH, MA, MSc
DPhil Student nicolas.fernandezbarra@st-annes.ox.ac.uk
Biography
Nicolás Fernández Barra is a Chilean obstetrician and gynaecologist with master's degrees in Public Health and Epidemiology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He is currently pursuing a DPhil in Women's and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Claire Carson and Ramón Luengo-Fernández.
His background combines clinical practice, teaching and research at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile with training in population health. This experience informs his interest in connecting questions arising from obstetric care with broader challenges in maternal and child health.
His doctoral research focuses on maternal health and its implications for the health of the next generation. His wider academic interests include maternal and perinatal epidemiology, health inequalities and health economics. Through his work, he aims to bring together clinical insight and epidemiological research to inform care and public health policy.
Publications
Fernandez-Barra N, Bienzobas C, Moreno M, Margozzini P. Prevalence of super obesity in the Chilean population: An analysis of the 2016–2017 National Health Survey. Revista Médica de Chile. 2026;154(9):1385–1392. doi:10.4067/S0034-98872026000901385.
Gutiérrez-Contreras P, Rousseau-Martínez B, Villarroel-Zepeda M, Riquelme-Cornejo I, Muñoz-Díaz R, Navea-Moraga J, Ponce-Parraguez D, Araya-Victoriano R, Fernandez-Barra N. Prevalence of Streptococcus agalactiae carriage among pregnant women treated at the Regional Hospital of Arica, 2018–2022. Revista Médica de Chile. 2026;154(9):1369–1376. doi:10.4067/S0034-98872026000901369.
Gutierrez-Contreras P, Castillo-Neira C, Pizarro-González C, Kharrat-Villasante S, Fernandez-Barra N. Epidemiological characterization of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in northern Chile: Experience from the Regional Hospital of Arica (2018–2022). Revista Médica de Chile. 2026;154(5):713–720. doi:10.4067/s0034-98872026000500713.
Fernandez-Barra N, Gutierrez-Contreras P, Poroj-Caraballo E, Arratia T, Poblete L JA. Pronatalist and fertility-support policies in response to fertility decline: A scoping review with implications for Latin America. Social Science & Medicine. 2026;403:119456. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119456.
Fernandez-Barra N, Poblete L JA. Chile at birth: Recent trends in birth rates and maternal age as inputs for public policy planning. Revista Médica de Chile. 2026;154(3):383–391. doi:10.4067/s0034-98872026000300383.
Fernandez-Barra N, Fernández CA, Muñoz EA, Cepeda BI, Gutierrez-Contreras P, Silva-Labarca PA, Galaz J, Vargas PA, Martinovic CP, Prieto JF, Luna DP, Buckel E, Godoy CA, Álvarez TA, Rebolledo R, Brañes AI, Ruiz JE, Benítez JE, García MB, Mege RM, Sanhueza MP, Kusanovic JP. Laparoscopic surgical resolution of symptomatic biliary pathology during pregnancy: An early therapeutic approach at any gestational age. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2026;318:114909. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.114909.
Fernandez-Barra N, Velasco R, Cepeda B, Saffie MB, Díaz S, Bernales M. Mental health in migrant women: Challenges and strategies to reduce inequities. Revista Médica de Chile. 2025;153(7):517–526. doi:10.4067/s0034-98872025000700517.
Fernandez-Barra N, Torres Hidalgo M. Screening for Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women. Is a national strategy necessary? Revista Chilena de Infectología. 2025;42(1):27–35. doi:10.4067/s0716-10182025000100107.
Fernandez-Barra N. Chronic non-communicable diseases: A new perspective. Revista Médica de Chile. 2024;152(12):1262–1264. doi:10.4067/s0034-98872024001201262.
Fernandez-Barra N, Astudillo-Goic R, Hinrichs-Giner L, Farías-Jofré M. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency anemia. Case report and literature review. Revista Chilena de Obstetricia y Ginecología. 2024;89(6):452–456. doi:10.24875/rechog.23000141.
Silva H, Romero M, Bedregal P, Fernandez-Barra N, Schulin-Zeuthen J. Paternal-fetal attachment from the maternal perspective. Andes Pediatrica. 2022;93(3):336–342. doi:10.32641/andespediatr.v93i3.3840.