Dance and Perinatal Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Dance and Perinatal Health: an investigation into collaborations between artists and perinatal health services
IRAS ID
333424
Contact name
Lorna Lawther
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 3 days
Research summary
This project aims to investigate collaborative partnerships between artists and perinatal health services through a comparative analysis of existing dance interventions for perinatal health. The literature concludes a clear link between the physiological, psychological and social health benefits of dance and the need to improve perinatal health and wellbeing. However, there are, so far, no existing studies, nor a concrete evidence base to confirm the impact of dance on perinatal health (Fancourt, 2017) and this study aims to address this gap in the research through a mixed-methods case study design.
An initial investigation to locate dance and perinatal health projects revealed 83 projects in UK and Ireland. The criteria was narrowed to include dance, physical theatre and body-based artistic practices. Fifteen projects were identified. The INNATE Arts in Health Evaluation Framework (Warran et al., 2022) was adapted to create a survey to gather mixed-methods data and to provide a comparative analysis of all existing dance and perinatal health projects in the UK and Ireland. Representatives (artists or organisational staff) from eleven projects were then interviewed and a thematic analysis was undertaken of the interview data revealing themes related to the collaboration between arts and health in these projects, such as the benefits and challenges faced. From these, three case studies have been chosen to conduct in-depth qualitative investigation and another phase of thematic analysis will be undertaken.
It is the intention for this research to be shared widely with both institutional and governmental bodies, such as Departments of Health, and Midwifery and Perinatal Support services across UK and Ireland to give evidence of the impact of non-pharmacological interventions for improving perinatal health and wellbeing and to give recommendations for best practice and project design for future collaborations between dance and perinatal health services.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
24/NI/0033
Date of REC Opinion
27 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion