Ethnicity, birth experience and post traumatic stress symptomology
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of ethnicity of relation to birth experience and post-traumatic stress symptomology.
IRAS ID
328013
Contact name
Pauline Slade
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 0 days
Research summary
Research shows that racial inequalities exist within healthcare for individuals who are from ethnic minority groups. Within maternity care services, these disparities are prevalent; with women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic background experiencing substantially worse birth outcomes in comparison to White women.
The release of the MMBRACE (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through AUDITS and Confidential Enquiries Across the UK) 2016-18 report highlighted that Black women are four times more likely to die during pregnancy, delivery and post-partum (in comaprison to White women). Asian women were reported to be three times more likely to die.
Research has helped us to understand that women from ethnic minority groups have more negative judgements and interactions with staff, feel as though they are treated with less kindness and compassion, feel dismissed, have less pain evaluations and receive less support from professionals post-partum.
Taken together, such experiences could lead to birth being experienced as traumatic and therefore lead to vulnerability to post traumatic stress symptoms.
This study aims to understand whether in there are differences in women’s birth experiences (in particular, whether birth is experienced as traumatic) and whether these differences can be explained by factors such as ethnicity. We also aim to understand whether post-traumatic stress symptoms are experienced by women who may have had more difficult or challenging birth experiences.
Lastly, we aim to understand what might be important to women during (and after) their maternity care. Participants will be Black, Asian and White women 6-12 post-birth. Participants will complete an online questionnaire which will ask them about their birth experience and how they are feeling.
The study is funded by the University of Liverpool, as part of a Doctoral-level project.
The student researcher is a second year trainee Clinical Psychologist working in the NHS with individuals who experience mental health difficulties.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0956
Date of REC Opinion
9 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion