Research co-authored by Birth Companions Institute Director Kirsty Kitchen, published in BMJ Public Health, examining the systemic barriers faced by women with Children's Social Care involvement who died during pregnancy or in the year after birth.
This paper presents findings from a confidential enquiry co-authored by researchers at King's College London, University of Oxford, Cambridge University Hospitals, Croydon Health Services and Birth Companions Institute Director Kirsty Kitchen.
The study used UK national maternal mortality surveillance data (MBRRACE-UK) to review the healthcare records of 47 women with Children's Social Care involvement who died during or in the year after pregnancy. It identified four key barriers to care: burden of care, disruption of care, follow-up of non-attendance, and bias in care.
The findings challenge the prevailing narrative around non-engagement among this group of women, and call for maternity and perinatal care that is trauma-informed, accessible and minimally disruptive.
