Loading...
Strategies for improving maternal care for ethnic minority women with obstetric anal sphincter injuries in the UK
Olakotan, Olufisayo Sudhakar, Vedhapriya Bhavsar, Mina Siddiqui, Farah Ayaz, Rabina O’Brady Henry, Gillian
Olakotan, Olufisayo
Sudhakar, Vedhapriya
Bhavsar, Mina
Siddiqui, Farah
Ayaz, Rabina
O’Brady Henry, Gillian
Editors
Other contributors
Epub Date
Issue Date
2025-02-25
Submitted date
Subjects
Alternative
Abstract
Background
Women from minority ethnic groups in the UK have the highest prevalence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI), including third- and fourth-degree perineal tears sustained during childbirth. Incorporating the voices of mothers at higher risk of OASI is crucial in developing strategies to improve care and well-being.
Aim
To identify strategies perceived as important by women with lived experience of OASI in Leicester, UK, to improve their care and well-being.
Methodology
Women at high risk of and with lived experience of OASI in Leicester, UK, were invited, through our local maternity and neonatal voices partnership, to participate in a virtual focus group discussion (FGDs). Two FGDs were conducted to accommodate participants' availability. The first session included seven women, while the second session included three women. All participants were from underrepresented groups with lived experiences of OASI within the past one to ten years. A discussion guide was used to explore participants’ perceptions and experiences of OASI care, as well as their views on culturally and linguistically sensitive maternal care strategies. The discussion was recorded and transcribed. The data were analysed using the six-step thematic analysis approach by Braun and Clarke.
Results
The participants identified strategies to provide culturally appropriate care for obstetric anal sphincter injuries, including linguistically accessible prenatal resources, comprehensive midwifery training, updated prenatal education, standardized postpartum care, the inclusion of fathers in prenatal education, empathetic care, building trust, and community engagement and education.
Conclusion
This study highlights disparities in maternal healthcare outcomes for women from diverse ethnic backgrounds who experience OASI. Addressing these inequalities requires incorporating the voices of those directly affected to inform culturally sensitive policies and practices in maternal care.
Citation
Olakotan, O., Sudhakar, V., Lim, J.N. et al. Strategies for improving maternal care for ethnic minority women with obstetric anal sphincter injuries in the UK. BMC Health Services Research, 25, 313. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12441-1
Publisher
Journal
Research Unit
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Embedded videos
Additional Links
Type
Journal article
Language
en
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1472-6963
EISSN
ISBN
ISMN
Gov't Doc #
Sponsors
This work was funded by the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s.