An engagement piece of Black & Black Mixed experiences
The Motherhood Group successfully completed a comprehensive engagement study in partnership with the Southwark Maternity Commission, examining the experiences of Black, Black Mixed Heritage and other ethnic community groups in maternity care.
Key Research Findings
Our report explored eight major themes that emerged from our engagement with approximately 120 participants, including:
1. Advocacy and Agency
2. Racism and Racialised Stereotyping
3. Listening
4. Stigma
5. Strengthening Relationships with Other Services
6. Continuity of Care
7. Cultural Competence and Sensitivity
8. Intimate Network Involvement and Support
Who we engaged with?
We gathered insights from Black and Mixed-Black participants, Latin American community members, South Asian residents, Gypsy, Irish Traveller and Roma community members, and healthcare professionals working in Southwark.
Our Methodology
The study utilised multiple engagement approaches:
• Workshop Sessions
• Focus group discussions
• Individual interviews
• Questionnaires
• Cross-partnership projects with community organisations
Key Recommendations
Our report made five core recommendations:
1. Strengthen community support
Provide tailored group care, chart existing support organisations, and ensure funding for social gatherings to promote advocacy and knowledge exchange between mothers, healthcare professionals and wider support networks.
2. Ensure availability of interpretation and translation services
Establish robust interpretation services to ensure effective communication between healthcare providers and service users, particularly for those who speak English as an additional language.
3. Strengthen healthcare professionals' capacity to advocate for service users
Enhance professionals' ability to communicate across council services, provide personalised care, and implement mandatory anti-racism and cultural competency training.
4. Ensure robust breastfeeding support
Provide comprehensive breastfeeding support for all service users after birth, with particular attention to cultural sensitivities and individual needs.
5. Enhance mental health support throughout maternity care
Ensure clear signposting to services both within and outside the NHS, while developing strategies to reduce stigma around maternal mental health in partnership with community organisations.
Impact
This research has provided vital information to support Southwark's goal of becoming a borough of equity and justice, highlighting crucial connections between maternity care and other social provisions including housing, mental health support, community networks, and cultural education.
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