Poverty Proofing Maternity Services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
‘Poverty-Proofing’ maternity care; a qualitative and survey study to improve access to care and pregnancy outcomes.
IRAS ID
333371
Contact name
Judith Rankin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 28 days
Research summary
Pregnant people living in low incomes in the UK are at increased risk of poorer birth outcomes, along with adverse physical and mental health. They are also less likely to engage in maternity care services, and report poor quality interactions. This study aims to understand barriers to engagement in maternity care services amongst low-income women in Newcastle, in order to identify a range of practical solutions/actions that will increase access to these services.
To further understand barriers, the study aims to:
1. Identify barriers to accessing maternity care in Newcastle using semi-structured interviews with 20 healthcare professionals and VCSE groups to identify ways of improving services' accessibility to low-income women. Interviews will be 1:1 and last approx. 45-60 minutes and will be recorded and transcribed verbatim.
2. Identify barriers to accessing maternity care in Newcastle using semi-structured interviews with 20 women/partners (>16 years old), who are currently or recently pregnant (0-18 months) living on low incomes. Interviews will be 1:1, but the pregnant women can bring her partner into the interview, and last approx. 45-60 minutes and will be recorded and transcribed verbatim.
3. Undertake a survey, last approx. 15 minutes, on the costs of pregnancy and accessing care for women, which will be aimed to be completed by 50 women. The survey will be online and paper copies available to eliminate digital exclusion.
The findings from this study will help to develop a toolkit of relevant practical changes that will be put in place to improve access to maternity care for women living on low incomes in Newcastle, and these findings will be shared with PPI groups in Liverpool (LiLaC), Coventry (PHRESH) and Bristol to inform the relevance of this work to their local context.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0820
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion