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Maternity Care Experiences of Asylum-seeking and Refugee Women in Scotland

This study wants to understand the experiences of women seeking asylum and refugees in Scotland when they use maternity services. It also looks at what healthcare professionals think about caring for these women. Many women who move to a new country can find it hard to get the healthcare they need, and asylum-seeking and refugee women often face more challenges during pregnancy and childbirth. Past research didn't always separate different groups of women who moved country, making it hard to compare findings properly. This new study focuses specifically on women seeking asylum and refugees in Scotland. By understanding their experiences and the views of healthcare staff, the researchers hope to find ways to improve maternity care in this area.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Aberdeen

Enrolment target

300

Start

01 May 2024

Estimated completion

30 Nov 2026

Refugee Asylum-seeking Women Maternity

What is this study about?

This research study is about understanding how women who are seeking asylum or have refugee status experience maternity care in Scotland. When women move from one country to another, they can sometimes face difficulties getting the healthcare they need. This can be especially true for women who are pregnant and also seeking asylum or are refugees. They might have a higher chance of problems during pregnancy and childbirth, like their babies being born very small, or having physical or mental health problems.

Previous studies have looked at the experiences of women who have moved to a new country and are pregnant, but they often didn't look specifically at women seeking asylum or refugees. This made it harder to understand their unique challenges. This new study aims to fill that gap. It will ask women about their experiences with maternity services in Scotland and also speak to healthcare professionals to understand their perspectives on providing care to these women. The goal is to get a really clear picture of what is happening and why.

By gathering information from both women and healthcare staff, the study hopes to identify areas where maternity care can be improved. This is important because it can help make sure that all women, regardless of their background, receive the best possible care during pregnancy and after childbirth. The findings could help shape future services and policies in Scotland, making a real difference to these women and their families.

Key takeaways

This study aims to understand maternity care for asylum-seeking and refugee women in Scotland.
It involves surveys for women and interviews for women and healthcare staff.
Your experiences could help improve future maternity services.
Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.
The study focuses on women who were pregnant as asylum-seekers or refugees in Scotland within the last 5 years.
The findings could influence policy and practice in Scotland.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in the first part of the study, which is a survey, you need to be a woman aged 16 or older. You should have been pregnant at some point in the last five years and have used NHS maternity services in Scotland at that time. Crucially, you must have been seeking asylum or had refugee status when you were pregnant in Scotland. You also need to be able to understand English, Arabic, Persian, or Urdu well enough to complete the survey.

You cannot take part if you were an economic migrant, an undocumented migrant, or had British citizenship when you were pregnant and used maternity services in Scotland in the last five years. Also, if you are an asylum-seeking or refugee woman living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, this study is not for you. You also cannot participate if you can't understand the languages mentioned for the survey.

For the second part of the study, which involves interviews, the guidelines are similar. You need to be a woman aged 16 or older, able to give permission to take part, and either currently pregnant or have been pregnant in the last five years, using NHS maternity services in Scotland during that time. Again, you must have been seeking asylum or had refugee status when you were pregnant. For interviews, you need to understand English or Arabic well enough. Healthcare professionals working in NHS Scotland maternity services, such as midwives, doctors, healthcare support workers, and managers, can also be interviewed if they can give permission to participate.

Quick self-check

Are you a woman aged 16 or over?
Were you pregnant within the last 5 years in Scotland?
Did you use NHS maternity services in Scotland during that time?
Were you an asylum-seeker or refugee when you were pregnant in Scotland?
Can you understand English, Arabic, Persian, or Urdu well enough to respond?
Are you currently living in Scotland (for the interview stage)?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, the first step is to complete a survey. This can be done online or on paper and should only take about 10 to 15 minutes. The survey will ask questions about your experiences with maternity services in Scotland, and you’ll have a chance to write extra comments if you wish. You can stop the survey and withdraw at any time before you submit it.

After the survey, some women, including those who completed the survey and said they were interested, will be invited to take part in an interview. Healthcare professionals will also be invited to interviews. These interviews will last between 30 to 60 minutes and will help the researchers understand the survey results more deeply. If you take part in an in-person interview, you'll be asked to sign a consent form. For online interviews, your spoken agreement will be recorded. You are free to withdraw from the interview at any time, for any reason, even after you've agreed to take part.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help improve maternity care for women seeking asylum and refugees in Scotland. Your experiences could directly influence how services are designed and delivered in the future. There are no direct medical risks involved in this study as it only involves sharing your experiences through surveys and interviews. Some people might find it uncomfortable to talk about past experiences, but you will not be asked anything that would put you at harm. You are completely free to stop participating at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect any care you receive.

Locations (1)

NHS Grampian
Aberdeen, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is an asylum-seeker or refugee?

An asylum-seeker is someone who has asked for protection in another country and is waiting for a decision on their case. If their request is accepted, they become a refugee.

How long will the survey take to complete?

The survey should take about 10 to 15 minutes to finish.

Do I have to do an interview if I complete the survey?

No, if you complete the survey, you will only be invited for an interview if you expressed interest. You can say no to the interview without any problems.

Can I stop taking part in the study once I've started?

Yes, you can withdraw from the study at any time, even after you've started, without needing to give a reason.

Will my information be kept private?

The study aims to maintain your privacy. The researchers will explain how your information will be used and kept secure.

How to find out more

Mairead Black, PhD

mairead.black@abdn.ac.uk 01224 438437 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.