Past Projects
| Title: |
Attitudes to pregnancy risk and conception among
women with type 1 diabetes |
1st April 2004 – July 2005
Research Team
Dr Alison Hosie, University of Newcastle.
Dr Janice McLaughlin, University of Newcastle.
Dr Gillian Hawthorne, Head of Clinical Diabetes Service,
Newcastle Diabetes Centre, Newcastle PCT.
Dr Margaret Blott, Consultant Obstetrician, Newcastle Diabetes
Centre, Newcastle PCT.
Background
NHS National Service Framework for Diabetes: Standards
states that:
“The NHS will develop, implement and monitor policies
that seek to empower and support women with pre-existing
diabetes and those who develop diabetes during pregnancy
to optimise the outcomes of their pregnancy.” (ibid:
5)
The question for the providers of diabetes services is
how to provide care in a way that can generate better outcomes
for diabetic women? Developing services that can do this
requires an understanding of how women with type 1 diabetes
approach their condition and its implications for other
areas of their life. Therefore this research is concerned
with understanding the perspective of women with type 1
diabetes. We will explore their daily lives, routines and
choices when managing the issues that arise from their
condition, particularly when considering issues of reproductive
choices and pregnancy.
Research Aim
To study the attitudes to risk management and reproductive
choice of a sample of women with type 1 diabetes using
qualitative social sciences methodologies in order to
capture their social contexts.
Objectives
- Explore how women with type 1 diabetes understand their condition, the risks that come with it and the implications
of pregnancy and their reproductive choices.
- Identify the social contexts that influence how diabetic women identify and manage health and pregnancy risk.
- Contribute to the development of preconception care for diabetic women in Newcastle.
- Facilitate the development of a large study focused on developing and testing models of intervention based on
the findings here.
Research Design
The research consists of a series of qualitative interviews
with type 1 diabetic women, the approach to access and
the interviews will be piloted. The research has Local
Ethics Committee Approval.
The sample
- 20 women (between the ages of 18 and 40) who may or may not be considering becoming pregnant
- 5 women who are pregnant (women will not be contacted unless in the 2nd trimester of their pregnancy at the beginning
of fieldwork)
- 5 women who have had a successful pregnancy in the last 2 years
Interview Themes
The personal history of the diagnosis and condition
Daily treatment, regime and management
Health care services and advice
Personal relationships, sex and pregnancy
Knowledge about diabetes and pregnancy
Desire for pregnancy and motherhood
Contraceptive use
Partner relationships
Health locus of control
Pregnancy planning (or prevention) behaviour
Relationships with health care providers
Dissemination
The findings are being disseminated via health professional
local networks, magazines / journals and other academic
outlets.
For further details about the project please contact:
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