A qualitative study exploring British Muslim women’s experiences of motherhood while engaging with NHS maternity services
type: CreativeWork
description: Women in the UK have access to NHS maternity services and most will attend hospital to give birth in the NHS. Much effort has been undertaken over several decades to improve childbirth and to enhance the experiences of those using NHS maternity services. However, while most women report positive experiences of maternity care, existing evidence suggests that women from ethnic minority groups in the UK have poorer pregnancy outcomes, experience poorer maternity care, are at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and have significantly higher severe maternal morbidity than the resident white women (Puthussery, 2016; Henderson et al, 2013; Puthussery et al., 2010; Straus et al., 2009). Muslim women of child-bearing age make up a significant part of UK society, yet their health needs and their experiences of health services have not been extensively researched. The term ‘Muslim’ is often combined with ethnic group identity, rather than used to refer to people distinguished by beliefs, practices or affiliations. Muslim women commonly observe certain religious and cultural practices during their maternity journey and the little research there is in this area suggests that more could be done from a service provision perspective to support Muslim women through this, spiritually and culturally significant life event (McFadden et al., 2013; Alshawish et al., 2013). This study explores Muslim women’s perceived needs and the factors that influence their health seeking decisions during their transition to motherhood. Using a generic qualitative approach, seven English-speaking first time pregnant Muslim women and a Muslim mother who is second time pregnant but experiencing motherhood as a Muslim for the first time, were interviewed at different stages of their maternity journey (antenatal, post-labour and postnatal); five focus groups were conducted with Muslim mothers; and 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals. Thematic analysis of the tra…
abstract: Women in the UK have access to NHS maternity services and most will attend hospital to give birth in the NHS. Much effort has been undertaken over several decades to improve childbirth and to enhance the experiences of those using NHS maternity services. However, while most women report positive experiences of maternity care, existing evidence suggests that women from ethnic minority groups in the UK have poorer pregnancy outcomes, experience poorer maternity care, are at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and have significantly higher severe maternal morbidity than the resident white women (Puthussery, 2016; Henderson et al, 2013; Puthussery et al., 2010; Straus et al., 2009). Muslim women of child-bearing age make up a significant part of UK society, yet their health needs and their experiences of health services have not been extensively researched. The term ‘Muslim’ is often combined with ethnic group identity, rather than used to refer to people distinguished by beliefs, practices or affiliations. Muslim women commonly observe certain religious and cultural practices during their maternity journey and the little research there is in this area suggests that more could be done from a service provision perspective to support Muslim women through this, spiritually and culturally significant life event (McFadden et al., 2013; Alshawish et al., 2013). This study explores Muslim women’s perceived needs and the factors that influence their health seeking decisions during their transition to motherhood. Using a generic qualitative approach, seven English-speaking first time pregnant Muslim women and a Muslim mother who is second time pregnant but experiencing motherhood as a Muslim for the first time, were interviewed at different stages of their maternity journey (antenatal, post-labour and postnatal); five focus groups were conducted with Muslim mothers; and 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals. Thematic analysis of the tra…
author: Hassan, SM
keywords: RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine, RG Gynecology and obstetrics
date published: 2017-10
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:30:22Z
provider: Liverpool Jon Moores University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Liverpool John Moores University

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.24377/LJMU.t.00007412