Exploring the barriers Black and Asian women face throughout maternity and neonatal care

Our Listen, Understand, Act: addressing race inequalities across maternal and neonatal health and wellbeing programme of grant-making aims to contribute to the evidence-base to address race inequalities in the UK, across maternal and neonatal health and wellbeing.  

As such, we are seeking an organisation to undertake a midwifery or nurse-led primary research study which will aim to:  

Explore the barriers Black and Asian women face throughout maternity and neonatal care, to be given a voice; to be listened to and heard by the professions caring from them and their babies across their maternity and neonatal journey. 

Funding 

The RCN Foundation is seeking applications from organisations to work over a 12-month period on this study, with funding of up to £35,000 available. 

Central to the study will be an exploration as to what personalised care looks like in maternal health for Black and Asian women and how giving them a voice; listening to and hearing them can achieve this. Examples of effective practice would need to be drawn through a four-country approach, and an evidence-based approach to measuring the impact of interventions should also be included.

Application 

To apply, please click here to download the application document. 

Completed proposals should be submitted by email to grants@rcnfoundation.org.uk. 

Applications open on 7 August and close at 5pm on 18 September.

Should you have any questions about this funding call, please contact Dr Sarah McGloin, Head of Grants and Impact. 

Q&A

The RCN Foundation hosted an information and Q&A session on the Listen, Understand Act: addressing race inequalities across maternal and neonatal health and wellbeing programme on 24 August and the slides can be found here. 

A few key points to consider when applying for the midwifery or nurse-led primary research:

• Statutory organisations can apply to this particular programme as it’s a priority area set out in our strategy. We require the NHS trust to link with a Higher Education Institute for the research project to lead on the work
• Having lived experience and user voice is central to the success of the research project, however we do ask that these individuals have gone through the process and had time and space to reflect and participate in a safe and supported way. Therefore we ask you to not approach current NHS patients to participate in your study
• The work is to cover both maternal and neonatal pathways
  
   

This call maps to the following Royal College of Midwives, James Lind Alliance, Midwifery Practice and Maternity Care Priority Setting Partnership Priority areas.

Priority area 1: What is required to create and implement culturally safe maternity care in the UK for women and birthing parents, and their babies, and staff from the global ethnic majority? What role does decolonisation of the midwifery curriculum and ongoing learning in clinical settings play in improving cultural competence and safety?

Priority area 3: What are the important components of personalised maternity care to ensure informed choice and decision making and how should this care be provided?