Postnatal care following high blood pressure in pregnancy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does postnatal care for women who had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy reflect the evidence base? A longitudinal qualitative study of women and clinicians in South London
IRAS ID
215237
Contact name
Debra Bick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
Women who have high blood pressure before, during or after pregnancy are at risk at poorer pregnancy outcomes, including maternal death and premature birth. These women are also at risk of problems related to high blood pressure in future pregnancies, and for some, a longer-term health risk of cerebral vascular disease. Numbers of women experiencing high blood pressure are increasing and despite evidence based guidance to support postnatal care, we do not know if women receive appropriate or evidence informed postnatal care which meets their shorter and longer-term health needs. We want to interview women who had high blood pressure during or immediately following pregnancy who gave birth in four South London maternity units at 4 and 12 months postnatally. We are also planning to interview relevant clinicians, clinical managers and those who commission maternity services in South London to obtain their views on how postnatal services could better reflect the evidence base.
During our interviews with women we want to explore the level of care women currently receive within the first 12 months of giving birth, including support to manage their own health, extent to which their postnatal care reflects national guidance for postnatal follow up of a range of blood pressure disorders, how plans for care were communicated with them and their views on how services could be revised to promote better outcomes for women and their infants. Women's views and those of the clinicians and commissioners we interview will be used to inform a potential new pathway of care for women giving birth who experience hypertensive disorders in South London.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0054
Date of REC Opinion
22 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion