Background: Stillbirth is a global public health priority. Within the United Kingdom, perinatal mortality disproportionately impacts Black, Asian and Minority Ethic (BAME) women, these communities have double the rates of stillbirth than white women. Although the explanation for this remains unclear, it is thought to be multidimensional and includes access to key public health information. Improving perinatal mortality is reliant upon raising awareness of stillbirth and its associated risk factors. The aim of this study was to explore BAME women’s awareness of stillbirth, perceptions of how it can be prevented through maternal behaviour change and how key public health messages could be more accessible to BAME women.
Method: Two semi-structured focus groups and 13 one to one interviews were completed with a purposive sample of 30 participants from 18 countries and across 4 NHS Trusts. Participants provided a detailed account of their recollection of stillbirth advice and risk factors both before and during pregnancy. They also suggested approaches to more effectively communicate key messages to BAME women.
Results: The results indicate limited awareness of stillbirth and potentially modifiable risk factors. They highlight the importance of the way in which resources to communicate key messages are developed and how they are communicated. The study supports the need for a range of resources which should be developed and shared within communities and as well as by trusted health professionals.
Conclusion: Our study found that the term “stillbirth” does not routinely exist in many women’s narrative of perinatal health. This introduces additional complexity for health professionals when discussing stillbirth prevention with women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Through co-development messages can be more accessible, acceptable and communicated effectively. It was clear that there was no ‘one size fits all’ and that a multi-pronged approach is required.