University of Southampton to Lead National Effort to Tackle Maternity Care Disparities

University of Southampton to Lead National Effort to Tackle Maternity Care Disparities

(IN BRIEF) The University of Southampton is leading a collaboration within the £50 million NIHR Challenge: Maternity Disparities consortium to address inequalities in maternity care across the UK. The initiative aims to improve health outcomes by focusing on preconception and interconception care, addressing systemic issues like poverty and racism, and integrating public health strategies into maternal health. Partnering with UCL and NHS Integrated Care Boards, Southampton will leverage its research expertise to reduce disparities that disproportionately impact women from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds. The collaboration emphasizes equity, innovation, and community engagement to create lasting improvements in maternity care.

(PRESS RELEASE) SOUTHAMPTON, 27-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Southampton has been announced as a key leader in a groundbreaking initiative to address disparities in maternity care outcomes. As part of the newly launched NIHR Challenge: Maternity Disparities consortium, supported by £50 million in funding over five years from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), Southampton will lead one of nine UK collaborations aimed at improving care before, during, and between pregnancies.

The initiative responds to concerning trends in the UK, where the risk of maternal mortality has risen since 2000, disproportionately affecting women from minority ethnic backgrounds and disadvantaged areas. Recent data highlights that Black women in the UK are nearly three times more likely to die during pregnancy or shortly afterward compared to white women, while Asian women face double the risk.

The Southampton-led collaboration will focus on creating a “whole maternity” journey that integrates preconception and interconception health into public health strategies. By addressing broader social determinants of health, such as poverty and racism, the project aims to ensure equitable healthcare access for all women.

A Comprehensive Approach to Maternity Care

Professor Keith Godfrey, leading the Southampton collaboration, emphasized the importance of improving health before conception. “Healthier individuals before pregnancy lead to better outcomes for mothers and babies. It is often too late to address health issues once pregnancy begins,” he said.

Southampton will partner with University College London (UCL), NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, and NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. The collaboration builds on a robust £147.6 million research portfolio and longstanding partnerships, including contributions to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Maternity Disparities Taskforce and co-founding the UK Preconception Partnership.

Strengthening Maternal Health Systems

Margaret Beattie, Associate Director of Maternity and Early Years at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said, “This collaboration is a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of disparities in maternity care. By working together, we aim to ensure all expectant individuals have equal access to quality services and improved health outcomes.”

The consortium will support small-scale and systemic changes, from integrating care strategies into public health to investing in future research leaders. Key themes include addressing mental and physical health challenges, fostering equity in service delivery, and embedding community voices into research and care models.

National Impact

Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling maternity inequalities, calling the consortium’s work “crucial to driving positive change.” Professors Marian Knight, Joht Singh Chandan, and Judith Rankin, leading the national consortium, emphasized the importance of collaboration and capacity building in delivering meaningful improvements in maternal care outcomes.

The consortium represents a transformative step toward eliminating disparities in maternity care, with the University of Southampton and its partners poised to drive innovation and equity in maternal health across the UK.

Media Contact:

Tel. +44 (0)23 8059 3212
Email: press@southampton.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Southampton