NIHR ARC TV Doctoral Award: Evaluation and scale up of community-based interventions to improve access to maternity services, improve experience of pregnancy and early parenthood and maternal and infant outcomes

Background
Community-based initiatives to address maternity and postnatal inequalities are a feature of the maternity and postnatal care landscape. One example is the Early Lives Equal Start (ELES) project, located in a community hub in Florence Park, South East Oxford. Here community midwives are addressing health inequities for the black and minority ethnic population during the first 1001 days of baby's lives through supporting ethnically diverse women and birthing people within the OX4 postcode, which includes neighbourhoods that are among the 20% most deprived areas in England. The aim of the project is to improve access to maternity services, improve experience of pregnancy and early parenthood, and ultimately improve maternal and infant outcomes. As with many place-based community initiatives, there are multiple areas in which the project seeks to have impact– social, economic, medical – and multiple levels at which it operates – individual, community, institutional and system.

The ELES model of delivery within a community hub, provides accessible support, develops community cohesion and addresses social injustice. Recruiting members of the different communities within OX4 brings high levels of cultural awareness and trust. The open dialogue between the midwives, ELES, local services and charities and community groups has resulted in improved wellbeing, relevant service provision and partnership working which is a model which could be implemented elsewhere.

Aim
To evaluate community-based initiatives that seek to address maternity and postnatal inequalities, with ELES as an exemplar model, using mixed methods, including health economics, and identify the opportunities and barriers for regional and national scale-up.

Objectives
1. What are the barriers to implementation of the programme across the system?
2. What are the long-term economic impacts of implementation of the programme?
3. What are the likely impacts on maternal and infant outcomes?
4. What are the opportunities and barriers to regional and national scale up?

Methods
Mixed methods including qualitative, quantitative and health economic approaches and co-production with local communities.

Expected outcomes
This project will generate evidence on the barriers and enablers to the implementation of community-based initiatives to address maternity and postnatal inequalities in the local health system, their likely impact on maternal and infant outcomes and economic and social impacts. The findings will inform the potential for regional and national scale up.

Preferred applicant background/skills
Applicants must have a first degree in a discipline relevant to primary care and applied health research, and will be expected to complete a DPhil during the award period. Preferred skills/experience include training or experience in mixed-methods research (qualitative and quantitative) and an interest in health economics, women's health, implementation, health systems and health inequalities.

Funding

Fees at Home level for 3 years, Overseas applicants welcome to apply but they will need to cover difference in fees. Funding also covers an annual stipend of at least £23,000 and research costs of £2,500 per year.

Please note: this funded project is available for full-time students only.

Application process

Applications must be received by 12 noon (UK time) Tuesday 30 June 2026. 

Please apply for the DPhil in Primary Health Care as standard, ensuring that the project title and named supervisors match those in the advertised project.

Your research proposal should include your plans of how you would approach the project, what methods would use and your predictions of results.