Reducing Health Disparities in Maternity Care: A Personal Reflection

Dr Hora Soltani - Professor of Maternal and Infant Health, Sheffield Hallam University 

Professor Hora Soltani is the lead for Maternal and Infant Health Research Group (MIRG) at Sheffield Hallam University. Hora has established the MIHRG since she joined SHU in 2006, with the overall aim of promoting health equity for mothers and babies. The health and social care requirements of populations particularly for mothers and families from marginalised backgrounds with evidence of poorer pregnancy and birth outcomes, are evolving. Reflecting on her research journey, Hora will present a body of work addressing health inequalities for women particularly those from ethnic minority and migrant backgrounds. This summarises a collaborative team working in partnership with women, co-developing and evaluating culturally sensitive care models, incorporating digital solutions and maternity peer supporters (MPS).

Practitioners conceptualisations and experiences of child-to-parent violence and coercive control

Charlotte Ashworth - PhD Student, University of Sheffield 

Charlotte is a practitioner-academic with a background in Local Authority children's social work. She is currently a PhD student at the University of Sheffield and NIHR Doctoral Fellow hosted by Manchester City Council. Child-to-parent violence and abuse (CPVA) is a pattern of behaviour where a parent or carer is abused by a child they are caring for. The main body of scholarship about CPVA has been published within the last 20 years, and is rapidly growing. In England, there is a complex legal and policy framework for practitioners working with families experiencing CPVA. This qualitative study explored practitioners’ understanding and experiences of working with families where CPVA is occurring. Two focus groups were held with practitioners (n=16) from Early Help, Children’s Social Work and Youth Justice in a local government organisation in England. Practitioners were asked how they define CPVA, the characteristics of children, young people and their parents and carers, risk and protective factors and interventions for CPVA. The focus groups were voice-recorded, transcribed and then analysed in NVivo using thematic analysis. Three main findings resulted in the following themes that characterise CPVA: CPVA as controlling or coercive behaviour; intrinsic individual and familial risk factors; and, extra-familial risk factors.