Co-designing strategies to enhance midwives’ gestational weight gain mindlines in relation to South Asian women

Raju, Sereena (2024) Co-designing strategies to enhance midwives’ gestational weight gain mindlines in relation to South Asian women. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

Background: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is linked with health risks to mother and baby. This problem is particularly prevalent among South Asian women. Midwives are best placed to support healthy weight management during pregnancy. However, research on optimum approaches is sparse. Knowledge mobilisation through enhancement of midwives’ mindlines offers a new approach to improving practice.

Aim: To: i) understand how midwives’ and pregnant South Asian women’s GWG mindlines develop and ii) co-design prototype strategies to enhance midwives’ mindlines.

Methods: Three qualitative stages based on the Socialisation, Externalisation, Combination, Internalisation (SECI) spiral which underpins mindlines theory.
Stage 1: Qualitative interviews with midwives and pregnant women to explore how mindlines develop during socialisation and externalise knowledge. Findings were combined with research evidence within films for the workshops.
Stage 2: Four virtual workshops with midwives and South Asian pregnant women/new mothers to co-design prototype strategies supporting culturally sensitive consultations about weight. These combined the externalised practical understanding with research evidence.
Stage 3: The prototypes were developed and tested to ensure that the combined knowledge can be internalised and used by midwives.

Results: Stage 1: Mindlines developed through diverse sources during socialisation, and these surpassed information and guidance. For women, issues included family influences (which were particularly strong for South Asian women), physiological changes, environmental factors, and midwifery support. Midwives were challenged by insufficient time and resources, conflicting perceptions of obesity, and perceived engagement from women.
Stage 2: The co-designed prototype strategies that combined and externalised knowledge were: i) a brief talk on the topic at the Midwifery day and ii) an education package for midwives. These were combined within postcards and a film.
Stage 3: Midwives regarded the strategies as acceptable and effective in supporting others to advise and signpost about weight with South Asian women. However, potential areas of burden in relation to time, midwives’ context (e.g. perceived relevance to different settings), and women’s needs were identified.

Conclusions: This study offers a unique contribution to knowledge by novel application of mindlines theory to improve midwives’ consultations with pregnant South Asian women regarding GWG. Additionally, it provides a foundation for further research into mindline amendment to enhance practice in healthcare.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 29 August 2023 Submitted 14 March 2024 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Gestational weight gain; obesity; maternal; co-design; knowledge mobilisation, mindlines
Subjects:	CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-06 - allied health > CAH02-06-01 - health sciences (non-specific)
Divisions:	Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > Centre for Social Care, Health and Related Research (C-SHARR)
Depositing User:	Jaycie Carter
Date Deposited:	02 Sep 2024 13:58
Last Modified:	02 Sep 2024 13:58
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15767