Ms Jenny Cunningham
Contact
- Email: k2030248@kingston.ac.uk
- Location: Kingston Hill
- Faculty: Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- School: School of Education, Midwifery and Social Work
- Department: Department of Midwifery
Research project: Women's experiences of weight stigma in UK maternity care: how can care be improved for people of higher weight? A Critical Participatory Action Research study
Abstract
To better understand the experience of weight stigma as experienced by pregnant women with a raised body mass index (≥30m/kg²) and to find ways to reduce weight stigma in maternity services.
The research objectives:
- To undertake a meta-ethnography to examine the experiences and perceptions of weight stigma of women with a raised body mass index (BMI ≥30m/kg²) in maternity care
- To use a qualitative methodology to investigate what women would like changed in maternity services to improve their experience
- To use Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR) which will involve the building of a research collective to advise and drive the project direction.
- To bring forward solutions to improve care of higher weight women.
- To disseminate these findings together with the research collective.
- To develop post-doctoral work which will focus on how to implement solutions to reduce or eradicate weight stigma in maternity services.
- Research degree: PhD
- Title of project: Women's experiences of weight stigma in UK maternity care: how can care be improved for people of higher weight? A Critical Participatory Action Research study
- Other research supervisor: Dr Melania Calestani
Biography
I qualified as a midwife in 2007 and have worked both clinically and in research. I now work for the Royal College of Midwives as one of its Research Advisors whilst studying for my PhD.
Areas of research interest
- Pregnancy
- Raised body mass index
- Antenatal care
- Midwives
- Maternity services
Qualifications
- MSc Woman's Health, Plymouth University
- Dip HE Midwifery, Plymouth University
- BA (Hons) Education and Environmental Science, Froebel College, Roehampton
Funding or awards received
- 1st prize in poster competition, Royal College of Midwives Education and Research Conference 2023
- Iolanthe Trust Midwives Award 2022
- Kingston University studentship
- Royal Devon & Exeter Foundation Trust - small grant scheme
Publications
Cunningham, J and Aktinson, Pippa (2023) Creative Boost, in Community Practitioner: the journal of the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association. August 2023, pp 20-22
Cull, J, Anwar, N, Brooks, E, Cunningham, J, Forman, J, Hall, D (2022) Why are some voices not heard? Exploring how maternity care can be improved for women with limited English, in MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, vol 32, no 2, June 2022, pp 142-146
Cunningham, J, Endacott, R, Gibbons, D (2018) The experiences of pregnant women with a raised Body Mass Index (BMI) regarding their communication with midwives and other healthcare professionals, in British Journal of Midwifery 26, 9
Cunningham, J, Goldsmith, L and Skirton, H (2014) The evidence base regarding the experiences of and attitudes to preimplantation genetic diagnosis in prospective parents, in Midwifery 31, pp. 288-296
Conference papers
'How do women with a higher weight (Body Mass Index ≥30 kg/m²) experience weight stigma in maternity care? Findings from a meta-ethnography' at the International Labour and Birth Research Conference, 24-26 April 2023