TY - JOUR
T1 - Perinatal healthcare for women at risk of children’s social care involvement
T2 - a qualitative survey of professionals in England
AU - Grant, Claire
AU - Bicknell-Morel, Tamsin
AU - Taylor, Billie Lever
AU - Powell, Claire
AU - Blackburn, Ruth Marion
AU - Lacey, Rebecca
AU - Woodman, Jenny
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council UBEL Doctoral Training Programme (ES/P000592/1) and a UCL Culture Engagement Grant. CP, JW and RL are (in part) supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Children and Families Policy Research Unit (PR-PRU-1217–21301).
Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s)
PY - 2024/3/5
Y1 - 2024/3/5
N2 - Background Women with complex health needs are more at risk of having children’s social care involvement with their newborns than other mothers. Around the time of pregnancy, there are opportunities for health services to support women with these needs and mitigate the risk of mother–baby separation. Yet little is known about healthcare professionals’ experiences of providing this support. Methods We administered an online survey to perinatal healthcare professionals across England (n=70 responders), including midwives, obstetricians, perinatal psychologists/psychiatrists and health visitors. We asked about their experiences of providing care for pregnant women with chronic physical conditions, mental health needs, intellectual/developmental disabilities and substance use disorders, who might be at risk of children’s social care involvement. We conducted a framework analysis. Results We constructed five themes from participant data. These include (1) inaccessible healthcare for women with complex needs, (2) the challenges and importance of restoring trust, (3) services focusing on individuals, not families, (4) the necessity and caution around multidisciplinary support and (5) underfunded services inhibiting good practice. Conclusions Women who are at risk of children’s social care involvement will likely experience perinatal healthcare inequities. Our findings suggest that current perinatal healthcare provision for this population is inadequate and national guidelines need updated to inform support.
AB - Background Women with complex health needs are more at risk of having children’s social care involvement with their newborns than other mothers. Around the time of pregnancy, there are opportunities for health services to support women with these needs and mitigate the risk of mother–baby separation. Yet little is known about healthcare professionals’ experiences of providing this support. Methods We administered an online survey to perinatal healthcare professionals across England (n=70 responders), including midwives, obstetricians, perinatal psychologists/psychiatrists and health visitors. We asked about their experiences of providing care for pregnant women with chronic physical conditions, mental health needs, intellectual/developmental disabilities and substance use disorders, who might be at risk of children’s social care involvement. We conducted a framework analysis. Results We constructed five themes from participant data. These include (1) inaccessible healthcare for women with complex needs, (2) the challenges and importance of restoring trust, (3) services focusing on individuals, not families, (4) the necessity and caution around multidisciplinary support and (5) underfunded services inhibiting good practice. Conclusions Women who are at risk of children’s social care involvement will likely experience perinatal healthcare inequities. Our findings suggest that current perinatal healthcare provision for this population is inadequate and national guidelines need updated to inform support.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187197266&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082914
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082914
M3 - Article
C2 - 38448077
AN - SCOPUS:85187197266
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 14
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 3
M1 - e082914
ER -
