Understanding Low Levels of Vitamin-D in Pregnant Black/ Asian Women
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Vitamin-D Deficiency and Supplementation in Pregnant Black and Asian Women to Guide the Co-development of a Vitamin-D Deficiency and Supplementation Intervention
IRAS ID
337040
Contact name
Susan Kirk
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Black and Asian women and their babies, are at most risk of a lack of Vitamin-D when pregnant and breastfeeding. This can lead to significant health problems for pregnant mothers, such as, pre-eclampsia, and their babies health, such as, bone fragility. Such problems can be prevented by the use of Vitamin-D supplements, such as, tablets for mothers and liquid drops for babies. Studies show that even when given Vitamin-D supplements, pregnant and/or breastfeeding women don’t necessarily taken them or give them to their babies.
This study aims to use in-depth interviewing in a range of languages to develop a theory to understand the cultural reasons as to: 1) why Black and Asian women don’t take supplements or give them to their babies and if they do why, and at what dose, 2) what midwives can do to support these women with Vitamin-D supplementation, and to 3) co-design with the women and midwives during workshops a solution to try to support the use of Vitamin-D supplements for these women.
The study is funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit running for 12 months to apply for more funding to test the intervention developed in this study to promote uptake of Vitamin-D supplementation for pregnant Black and Asian women. This research has the potential to benefit the health of these women and their babies.
We plan to work with two NHS Trusts within Greater Manchester to recruit midwives and pregnant/ breastfeeding women from midwife-led hospital based clinics to take part in an interview and/ or a co-design workshop. We will also recruit women from any Black and Asian community/third sector organisations and voluntary sector groups. We will continue to work with our public contributors who are all Black and Asian mothers to shape all stages of the study.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0164
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion