Midwifery research in areas of deprivation and need: the MeRIDiAN project

Background: Areas with high levels of deprivation often have the lowest numbers of research participation. In January 2020, a maternity research service was established at a UK National Health Service (NHS) Trust incorporating a project monitoring equity of access to pregnant people from areas of deprivation and need.

Aims: The aim is to monitor maternity research opportunities for pregnant people in areas of deprivation and need.

Method: A collaborative working group was established. Using the Index of Multiple Deprivation levels (IMD) levels; 1-4 were considered 'areas in need'. Data were collected over a 12-month period from January 2020.

Results: Fifty-four pregnant people (3.1%), out of 1762 who delivered during 2020, were recruited to one of three research studies ('Big Baby', 'POOL' and 'PAN-COVID'). The majority of pregnant people (65.9%) who delivered a baby were in IMD levels 1-4. Recruitment within IMD levels 1-4: 'PAN-COVID' at 86.7%, followed by 'Big Baby' with 77.3% and 'POOL' at 70.6%. COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges which impacted research delivery, including availability of research studies.

Conclusion: This project was founded due to concerns that pregnant people from areas of need would be under-represented in research. We have found that this has not occurred. Recommendations are being put in place to ensure equity of access for all.