Midwifery, Perinatal Epidemiology, Reproductive and Child Health Postgraduate Research
A key feature of research in the Department of Midwifery and Child Health is multidisciplinary collaboration with researchers and others locally in inner and East London, nationally and internationally. This gives many opportunities for postgraduate development. PhD supervision is often undertaken in partnership with researchers from other departments with particular methodological skills, such as action research, research or subject experience, such as the involvement of service users in curriculum development.
Current doctoral students are working on topics arising out of their own experience as clinical or educational practitioners. These include an ethnographic study of a freestanding birth centre in East London; maternal health and morbidity in Sudan; barriers to exclusive breastfeeding among HIV positive women in Malawi; factors influencing use of evidence in clinical practice; experiences of teenage pregnancy.
We welcome applications from people who already have a view of what topic they would like to study, and those who would like to link to research already under way in the Department. Our key research themes are as follows:
- Equity and access to healthcare (including ethnic and social diversity)
- Safety and quality of care (service organisation, delivery & culture)
- Medicalisation, normal birth & wellbeing
- Public health/health promotion - improving reproductive, maternal and infant/child health (components include perinatal mental health, breastfeeding)
- Informed choice & patient/professional relationships
- Education of health professionals
Our students are supported by a mixture of funding sources, including the prestigious NIHR doctoral fellowships, university sponsored studentships and employer support. For information on potential sources of funding, we suggest prospective students check the following information sources before contacting us for advice:
www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate_study.htm
www.rdfunding.org.uk
Overseas applicants can find useful information links via the British Council website:
www.britishcouncil.org/learning-funding-your-studies.htm
Current research projects include:
- Place of birth - We are involved in the large-scale national Birthplace programme of research funded by the Department of Health and NIHR. We are also working with Barts and the London Trust, Tower Hamlets Primary Trust and the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit on research to assess the uptake, costs and users' perceptions of the impact of opening a new freestanding midwife led maternity unit in an inner city area. Additionally, we are undertaking qualitative case studies of the organisation and operation of midwife-led units.
- Use and interpretation of guidelines and protocols, evidence-based care and informed choice for service users - We are involved with several projects exploring how professionals interpret and use evidence in practice and the impact on choice for service users.
- Maternity data systems
Current students
Our research seminar programme
We run a monthly research seminar programme, with a mix of internal and external speakers, which is well attended by staff and students in our field and health service partners.
Information on the current seminar programme
Copies of previous seminar presentations
We are happy to discuss your ideas for research with you. You may find it helpful to get a sense of what the department does by looking around this website, for instance at our publications. Then write or email to us with an outline of your interests.
Contact: Dr Christine McCourt