Improving health literacy in the perinatal period
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving English language and Health Literacy in pregnant women from East London: A co-production project (Health Literacy Project)
IRAS ID
337153
Contact name
Mandeep Kaler
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bart Health NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This is a women's health project co-developed to improve pregnant women's understanding of women's health, pregnancy and childbirth. This project targets women who are unable to speak English and where English is not their first language.
What is Health Literacy?
‘Health literacy’ is an individual’s ability to absorb, process and understand information about their health, identify health services available to them and make informed decisions. This is particularly important during pregnancy allowing women to manage their pregnancy journey. Low health literacy may put patients at risk as they are unable to make the best health choices.Local Population (Non-English speakers living in Tower Hamlets)
In the UK, there are several health resources available to patients, but some vulnerable groups face barriers in accessing these resources. More than two thirds (69%) of this population belongs to a minority ethnic group. 4 in 10 residents were born outside the UK and almost half (46%) of the population are of childbearing age. Non-English speaking women who become pregnant will have several appointments with healthcare providers. Communication problems associated with not speaking English can often have a negative impact on the management of pregnancy.Objectives: 1) To develop a teaching and training programme for women to improve their English AND increase their health literacy. 2) To assess feasibility of this education tool to develop a future health literacy research project.
We will fulfil these objectives by developing and delivering a 2-hour education session, once a week for 6 weeks to the same group of women. To evaluate this work we will collect immediate feedback at the end of each session and 6 weeks after the education programme is complete. Improving health literacy for these women will allow them to manage and make health decisions as well as improve experience in a health care setting.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0458
Date of REC Opinion
3 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion