Using ‘The pregnant woman within the global context’ Moving towards meeting the health and social needs of pregnant asylum seeking and refugee women in the voluntary sector Rose McCarthy, Refugee Council, Leeds, UK Melanie Haith-Cooper, University of Bradford, UK Dasha Pluto, Refugee Council, Leeds, UK Jackie Ingham, Refugee Council, Leeds, UK

The Context Who is Mel? Agenda for implementing PhD findings and post doctoral research Who are Rose, Dasha & Jackie? Volunteer health befriending network

The Pregnant Woman within the Global Context Model

Matched by cultural/ language background Training examples Debriefing Confidentiality Boundaries Listening skills Empowerment Asylum process Dispelling myths Difference in health services between countries FGM Mental health Domestic violence Social support HIV Listening, supporting, signposting and accompanying Volunteers, mainly AS&R mothers offer peer support Meeting the needs through the Health Befriending Network Peer support meetings

Relating the principles of the model to training Jackie’s story

Impact on domestic abuse Model illustrates sources of stress for a couple Nearly 50% of the women being supported by befrienders had been through or were currently victims of domestic abuse Specialist services provided training Women referred to support groups and safe houses

Impact on access to services Dasha’s story

Impact on mental health Mental health training by experts Collaboration with the experts Sharing stories at peer support meetings Learning from stories and how to refer for counselling “ When I came here I was depressed and she really helped me. She took me to a counsellor and made me feel myself” client

Impact on midwifery education Student “Of all of the sessions I have partaken in so far in my midwifery training, this one left the biggest impression on me. I will never forget the journeys of the women we were lucky enough to be in the company of, or wiping away tears as unimaginable experiences were recited (with laughter and smiles!) by figures of utter strength and determination. I left the session feeling awe for those who can find the strength required to carry on through such desperate times, and determination to never again show allegiance to a system which only serves to prolong them.”

Befrienders wanting to do more to improve maternity services Maternity Stream formed Maternity Service of Sanctuary award developed The model can be used for services to learn about the award The model used as a framework to develop 2 educational DVDs Jackie’s reflection More funding required !!!!

References Haith-Cooper M, Bradshaw G (2013) Meeting the health and social needs of pregnant asylum seekers; midwifery students’ perspectives. Part 3; The pregnant woman within the global context”; an inclusive model for midwifery education to address the needs of recently arrived migrant women in the UK. Nurse Education Today. 33,9,1045–1050 McCarthy, R & Haith-Cooper, M (2013) Evaluating the impact of befriending for pregnant asylum seeking and refugee women. British Journal of Midwifery 21,6,