Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
The PRAMS study (Perinatal Redesign for Accessing Mental Health Services): a research protocol
Elena May Sheldon1, Naseeb Ezaydi2, Danielle Hahn2
1Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK e.m.sheldon@sheffield.ac.uk.
Insights
This study co-designs a perinatal mental health (PMH) intervention for underserved women, aiming to reduce inequalities in care access and outcomes. Findings will improve PMH service delivery for diverse birthing people.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health research
- Health inequalities
- Intervention co-design
Background:
- Perinatal mental health (PMH) issues affect 10-20% of women, costing the UK £8.1 billion annually.
- Ethnic minority women, those in deprived areas, and facing multiple disadvantages experience significant access and outcome inequalities.
- Gaps exist between primary care and specialist PMH services, with limited guidance for underserved populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To co-design an experience-based intervention for unmet PMH needs in underserved women.
- To identify barriers to care access and gaps within PMH pathways.
- To develop an accessible, evidence-informed intervention tailored to specific underserved groups.
Main Methods:
- Mixed-methods study employing the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework.
- Adapted Accelerated Experience-Based Co-Design (AEBCD) approach.
- National professional surveys/interviews (WP1), focus groups/interviews with underserved women (WP2), and co-design workshops (WP3).
Main Results:
- The PRAMS study will generate clinically relevant insights.
- A co-designed intervention will be developed through collaboration with practitioners and women with lived experience.
- Findings will inform local service delivery and national learning on user-led PMH service redesign.
Conclusions:
- The PRAMS study aims to reduce inequalities in PMH care for underserved women and birthing people.
- Collaborative co-design with diverse stakeholders will yield a potentially impactful intervention.
- Results will contribute to improving access and management of PMH care across primary and secondary services.
Background:
Perinatal mental health (PMH) problems affect 10-20% of women and birthing people during pregnancy and the postnatal year, costing the UK an estimated £8.1 billion annually. Underserved groups - including women and birthing people from minority ethnic groups, deprived areas, and those facing multiple disadvantages - experience the greatest inequalities in access and outcomes. Despite national investment, many fall between primary care (general practice, NHS Talking Therapies) and specialist PMH services, with limited guidance on bridging this gap.
Aim:
To co-design an experience-based intervention to address unmet PMH needs among underserved women and birthing people, and to explore barriers to accessing care and gaps across PMH pathways.
Design & Setting:
A mixed-methods study using the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework and an adapted Accelerated Experience-Based Co-Design (AEBCD) approach in the UK.
Method:
Work package (WP) 1 will survey and interview professionals nationally across diverse roles and organisational contexts. WP2 will involve focus groups and interviews with underserved women and birthing people in Sheffield and Doncaster (South Yorkshire, UK), supported by bilingual community research link workers (CRLWs). Findings will be synthesised and used in co-design workshops (WP3) to develop an accessible, evidence-informed intervention tailored to the needs of an underserved group.
Conclusion:
The PRAMS (Perinatal Redesign for Accessing Mental Health Services) study will generate clinically relevant insights into improving access to and management of PMH care for underserved women and birthing people. By working collaboratively with practitioners, women and birthing people with lived experience, and community partners, PRAMS will deliver a co-designed intervention with potential to reduce inequalities. Findings will inform local service delivery and contribute national learning on user-led redesign of PMH services across primary and secondary care.
More Related Videos
07:31Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack
Published on: May 15, 2020
06:16Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
Published on: June 6, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:54The Placebo Effect
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients