Brief summary of the project

The key aim of the engagement was to explore public perceptions of four maternity-related messages. Our children’s commissioning team developed the messages.

The messages were:

Message 1:

“As soon as you’re pregnant, it is important for you to see your midwife as soon as possible, even if you’ve had a baby before.”

Message 2:

“The early stages of pregnancy are the most important time for a baby’s development. Your midwife will help support the physical and emotional well-being of you and your baby.”

Message 3:

“Your midwife will help you to access the benefits available to you such as free prescriptions and free dental care, and will give you up to date information around staying healthy during pregnancy such as information on screening and immunisation.”

Message 4:

“Book an appointment as soon as possible it’s easy. Ask the GP receptionist for an appointment with a midwife or visit www.leedsth.nhs.uk/a-z-of-services/leeds-maternity-care/self-referral to refer yourself.”

 Who did we ask?

 Four groups were prioritised due to their relatively low engagement with midwifery during early pregnancy. These were:

• White families in areas of high deprivation
• Under 25-year olds
• People of African heritage
• People of Bangladeshi heritage

What and how did we ask?

Objectives for the engagement were to investigate:

• Public perceptions of the wording of each draft message presented.
• Preferred methods of communicating the messages to intended audiences.

We used an online survey to gather feedback. 49 people completed this questionnaire, and 13 people provided their views across two focus groups.

What did people tell us?

There were a number of key findings:

• Generally, our maternity messages were easy to understand.
• The messages were often seen to be too complex for women from BME groups.
• Data collected in the engagement revealed a concern that the language used within the messages may not be accessible to women and families who have English as a second language.
• Women with English as a second language would benefit from additional support to ensure messages were understood.
• Those involved in the engagement appeared to value a range of communication methods to receive the messages.

If you have any questions about this engagement please email us at leedsccg.comms@nhs.net or call on 0113 843 5470.

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