Lifestyle Behaviours and Weight Change of Black Pregnant Women in UK.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the Weight Change, Dietary Intake and Physical Activity of Black Pregnant Women in Liverpool: A Mixed Methods Approach.
IRAS ID
303470
Contact name
Julie Abayomi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Edge Hill University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 8 months, 2 days
Research summary
Black women in UK are more likely to die and/or have adverse outcomes during pregnancy, compared to White women. The reasons for this are largely unknown.
Healthy eating and maintaining physical activity during pregnancy helps to prevent excessive gestational weight gain, which in turn prevents adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the dietary intake and physical activity of black women and the factors that influence these behaviours during pregnancy are under researched in the UK. Also, compared to the white majority, minority groups in UK have more negative reports of antenatal care services. Studies recommend that maternity and behavioural interventions should be provided for Black pregnant women, but to develop effective interventions, their baseline behaviours and influences must be understood.
Therefore, to inform the development of future interventions specifically tailored for Black women, this study will investigate the weight change and health behaviours of pregnant Black women and to understand the underlying factors that influence these behaviours using mixed methods.
Recruitment
Black women pregnant with one baby, at the early stages of pregnancy will be recruited from antenatal clinics and black communities.
Once, at the beginning of the study, women will complete a short demographic questionnaire, and their height and early pregnancy weight will be measured.
-At 3 time-points, one in each trimester, women will:
1. Complete a pregnancy symptoms checklist.
2. Be weighed with body weight scales.
3. Be asked to complete a 4-day food diary.
4. Wear an accelerometer for 1 week.
Also, in the 3rd trimester, a subset of the women will be invited to participate in a one-to-one in depth interview.This study intends to provide vital information that is culturally specific to black women, which may inform the design of maternity services and behaviour interventions, tailored specifically to improve the pregnancy outcomes of black women in UK.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0583
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jul 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion