Ensuring under-served groups are represented in maternal health research: roundtable report

On 23 March 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) convened a roundtable on how to ensure under-served groups are represented in maternal health research, with a focus on women from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The roundtable brought together leaders within the BRC with researchers, community development workers, midwifery leaders, equity experts all with a shared interest in improving women’s health in Birmingham. The session was chaired by Shakila Thangaratinam in her role as Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Health at the University of Birmingham.

Recommendations

• Training of maternal healthcare staff: There is a need for training of maternal healthcare staff on how best to communicate with women from different backgrounds to ensure that all women have a positive, lasting impression of maternal healthcare services.
• Infographics and translated pieces: The barrier of exclusion through lack of digital literacy and not speaking English can be addressed through infographics, with little text, or documents translated into additional languages to increase awareness.
• Community events for the whole family: Holding events in the community and putting a face to the name/institution will increase engagement and open communication between researchers and the women they are trying to help.
• Training of research staff: Appreciating cultural differences will enable researchers to be more approachable to women from ethnic minorities and could work towards breaking down the barrier of mistrust.
• Engaging with young people from ethnic minority groups: Education early on and encouraging dialogue with young people will hopefully feed into families and ensure future generations have more confidence and trust in healthcare services.

Participants

• (Chair) Professor Shakila Thangaratinam, Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Health, NIHR Senior Investigator, Lead for Maternal and Reproductive Health, Co-Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham
• (Co-Chair) Dr Lucy Oakey, Research Manager for Maternal Health Research, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham
• Dawn Carr, Associate Researcher, Health Exercise and Activity Therapy (HEAT) and Patient and Public Involvement Representative, The Hildas
• Professor Wiebke Arlt, William Withering Chair of Medicine, Director of the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham
• Yesmin Shahid, Patient and Public Involvement Representative, Katie’s Team
• Hannah Ackom-Mensah, Underserved Populations Community Development Worker, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Ms Inderjeet Kaur, Director of Midwifery Services, Fernandez Hospitals
• Mrs Amy Maclean, West Birmingham Development Lead, Maternity and Children Ladywood & Perry Barr Integrated Care Partnership
• Sylvia Owusu-Nepaul, Lead midwife for Equity, Birmingham & Solihull United Maternity & Newborn Partnership, Hosted by Birmingham Women’s & Children’s
• Professor Phil Newsome, Deputy Director of the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham

Download the full briefing note here.