Birth Companions Research Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring outcomes and experiences of peri-natal care and support
IRAS ID
154210
Contact name
Gill Thomson
Contact email
Research summary
The key aim of this study is to explore birth outcomes and experiences of peri-natal care and support within a vulnerable population group. There are two key phases in the study. Phase one: Analysis of routinely and anonymised birth outcome data will be undertaken on all women who give birth at the Whittington Hospital over a 12 month period (~3,500 women). Analysis will be undertaken to explore for any differences in birth outcomes between; (a) women who are cared for by the Midwives for Vulnerable Adults and Babies team (MVABT) at Whittington Hospital; (b) women who are cared for by the MVABT who have also received support via the Birth Companions service and (c) women who are not classified as vulnerable/cared for under the MVABT.
Phase two: Short focused interviews will be carried out with 24 vulnerable women on the post-natal ward. These women will all be allocated under the MVABT and will include those who have/have not received additional support from the Birth Companions service. All interviews will be undertaken by a midwife working in the MVABT who has not provided direct care/support to the woman. It is also intended that women’s medical records will be accessed (following consent) to obtain basic demographic information, birth outcome data (in line with that collected for Phase one) and information as to why they were assigned to the MVABT.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/0353
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion