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Supporting a smoother transition into motherhood for marginalised people
in Manchester

Many women seeking sanctuary have low levels of trust in medical professionals and may avoid accessing services such as the NHS due to fear of deportation. This is often shaped by experiences of racialised stigma and hostile immigration policies, which can make sharing personal information with public bodies feel unsafe.

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While maternal and infant mortality rates have declined in the UK, research shows that Black, Asian and minority ethnic women are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes and less positive experiences of maternity care (Moller et al., 2019). They also face unequal access to services compared to white British women (Garcia et al., 2015).

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Through our partnership work, we are committed to helping address these inequalities and improving access, trust and outcomes in maternity care.

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Working with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN), and Ardwick and Longsight Primary Care Network, we explored ways to improve maternity care for women from Eastern African backgrounds living in Longsight.

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Thirty women from the Little Lions network, primarily from Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia, took part in weekly sessions designed to reduce the communication barriers they experience on their journey to motherhood. Many participants have experienced sexual and gender-based trauma, including trafficking and female genital mutilation (FGM).

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Our maternity care 'test and learn' site brought women from the Little Lions network together with health and social care professionals from across the system. In each session, women were able to ask questions about their health and explore ways to support their wellbeing through open discussion.

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Children were able to access a dedicated playroom and toys during sessions, allowing women to take part fully. Each session began with a short Afrocats dance activity to help participants feel relaxed, present and ready to engage.

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