Category / BU research

Further CMWH contributions to 2026 ICM congress

conferences, international, Women's Academic Network

Congratulations are due to BU’s Midwifery Lecturer Laura Stedman whose abstract ‘The impact of neonatal intensive care admission at term following gestational diabetes mellitus: A neglected area’ has been accepted for presentation at the 2026 ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) in Lisbon, Portugal.  Also congratulations to BU’s Lead Midwife for Education, Dr. Juliet Wood.  She been accepted to present a workshop at the ICM Congress under the heading ‘Supporting student midwife confidence to facilitate physiologic birth: A workshop for clinical and academic faculty‘.  The latter workshop is a proper international collaboration as the team also includes colleagues from Northern Ireland, the USA, Poland and Australia.

The ICM works with midwives and midwives’ associations globally to ensure that women and gender diverse people have access to a midwife’s care before, during and after childbirth. We advocate for midwives to practise the full scope of our profession, providing education, sexual and reproductive health services and newborn care.

Congratulations to both!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health

Early labour research accepted for ICM 2026 congress

conferences, international, Women's Academic Network

The ICM, the International Confederation of Midwives, holds its congress every three years, and the next one will be in Portugal in summer 2026.  Dr. Dominique Mylod had her abstract accepted with the title ‘Supporting women in early labour: An interdisciplinary, digital approach’, whilst Prof. Vanora Hundley’s ‘Can we identify women who will need additional support in the early (latent) phase of labour?’ abstract was also accepted.  Both Dr. Mylod and Prof. Hundley are based in the Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH) in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science.

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

New PhD publication on Nepal’s migrant workers

international, open access, Publishing, student research, writing

Congratulations to BU postgraduate student Yagya Adhikari, who has just been informed by the editor of the Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health that his paper “Parental migration for work and psychosocial problems among left-behind adolescents in Nepal” [1] has been accepted for publication.  Yagya’s PhD is based in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science.  He is supervised by Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen with support from Mr. Sudip Khanal, Lecturer in Biostatistics, at Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) in Kathmandu.  This is the second paper from Yagya’s PhD the first one was published at the start of his PhD studies [2].  Both papers are published in Open Access journals and therefor will be freely available to read by anyone in the world with internet access.

 

References:

  1. Adhikari, Y.R., van Teijlingen, E., Regmi, P.R., Khanal, S., Parental migration for work and psychosocial problems among left-behind adolescents in Nepal, Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health (forthcoming)
  2. Adhikari, Y.R., Regmi, P.R., Devkota, B., van Teijlingen, E.R. (2022) Forgotten health and social care needs of left-behind families of Nepali migrant workers. Journal of Health Promotion, 10(1):1–4. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v10i1.50976

BU to contribute to international midwifery workshop in 2026

Awarded & submitted bids, international, Women's Academic Network

This week Dr. Laura Iannuzzi, who is Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health, was informed by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) that the proposed workshop ‘Rest or arrest? A workshop to advance knowledge and skills to support women, families and teams when dealing with a slowing or pausing of labour’ has been accepted for the ICM conference in 2026.  This workshop in Portugal will be run in collaboration with Laura’s international colleagues Prof. Marina Weckend and Ms. Anna Maria Rossetti.  

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CARING AND WORKING: Developing insights into the world of the working carer and disseminating through art

Part 1: Developing insights into the world of the working carer

Background
Earlier this year we completed a study exploring the experiences of working carers in the South of England – part of a larger research project funded by NIHR ARC Wessex exploring carers needs, experiences and ideas about improving carers involvement in research (Pulman and Fenge, 2025).

A carer is anyone who provides unpaid care to a family member, partner, or friend who is unable to manage without support due to an illness, frailty, disability, mental health issue, or addiction.

Caring, unpaid, for older, disabled or chronically ill relatives or friends is something most of us will experience in our lives – all of us has a two in three chance of doing so. (HM Gov, 2023)

Carers who work in addition to their caring responsibilities – known as working carers – often face an ongoing struggle when trying to combine the dual demands of providing care with paid employment. There are nearly 3.7 million working carers in England and Wales; 2.6 million (72%) of these working in full-time paid employment alongside their caring roles, whilst about 1.6 million carers have problems combining work and care (Austin and Heyes, 2020).

The purpose of our research was to understand the experience of being in paid employment whilst providing unpaid care to someone, including adjustments made to employment, support provided by employers and support agencies, the impact on the carers perceived wellbeing and ideas for improving their involvement in carers research.

Realities of combining working with caring

Initial exploratory PPI work was carried out between September and December 2024 – including n=6 unpaid carers attending a one and a half hour facilitated workshop where they contributed to the design and development of the initial draft of the online questionnaire. Data was collected between December 2024 and May 2025, with n=51 working carers completing our online survey.

We found:

Several themes emerged concerning the carers experience at work, the support mechanisms in place which were helpful to them, issues and challenges experienced and ranked suggestions for future research to develop further understanding of the world of the working carer.

Our research highlighted the importance of developing more humanised ways of employers understanding a working carer’s needs and to meaningfully assist them in meeting their full potential within the workforce.

Employers need to think and plan differently for people with unpaid caring responsibilities and realise that working carers need more:

  • ENGAGEMENT from employers about how they can stay in work and be supported.
  • EMPATHY from employers regarding their caring responsibilities and demands.
  • EQUALITY from employers, showing respect and giving carers opportunities to thrive.

Increasing empathetic understanding

Participants in our study (Pulman and Fenge, 2025) felt that it was difficult for some managers and colleagues to fully appreciate working carer experiences unless they had personal experience of a similar situation. This highlights the need for more training for line managers and the wider workforce about the needs and experiences of working carers to promote supportive working environments.

Enhanced training about working carer lived experience, including examples from film and television, innovative higher education eLearning techniques, mixed media, or listening to carer experiences face-to-face could be very beneficial in helping managers and the wider workforce to become more aware of and immersed in the lifeworld of a carer (Todres and Galvin, 2006; Pulman, Todres and Galvin, 2010).

With these approaches in mind, we wanted to reach corporate hearts and change ‘head in the sand’ mindsets by evoking a sense of common connection. To engage with, and communicate to, employers across the Wessex region using innovative visual approaches which would help to open a window on the hidden world of the working carer.

An opportunity to collaborate with local artists

In June, Professor Mel Hughes and Dr Gladys Yinusa invited expressions of interest from university researchers to work with local artists to produce a creative output which would help maximise the reach and impact of current research projects. The pilot project being a collaboration with BEAF Arts Co, an open-access, multi-art form festival and year-round arts programme based in Boscombe.

BEAF (2025) are an innovative and independent organisation of freelancers and volunteers, who feel passionately that culture changes communities for the better and there is a strong evidence base for creative outputs being an inclusive tool for reaching and involving communities in research and for extending the reach of research findings, including to community, academic, policy and practice audiences.

The pilot was developed to build connections with a local artist network who would be involved in selecting their preferred research project – matching the research team with a local artist and then providing funding to cover artist fees and materials. After successfully applying for funding for our research project, we were matched with artist Adilson Naueji to communicate findings.

We look forward to sharing reflections from this collaborative project in the second part of this blog post series soon.

With thanks to:

  • Artist Adilson Naueji.
  • The working carer research project is supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex.
  • The artwork being created is supported by BEAF Arts Co and Bournemouth University.

More information on our project:

Professor Lee-Ann Fenge – lfenge@bournemouth.ac.uk

Dr Andy Pulman – apulman@bournemouth.ac.uk

https://nccdsw.co.uk/clusters/research/carer-research

https://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/social-care

References:

Austin, A. and Heyes, J., 2020. Supporting working carers: How employers and employees can benefit. CIPD/University of Sheffield.

BEAF Arts Co (2025). BEAF Arts Co Homepage, available online at: https://gotbeaf.co.uk/ (accessed September 30, 2025).

HM Gov (2023). Carers Week 2023: crunching the numbers… HM Gov Social Care Blog, available online at: https://socialcare.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/09/carers-week-crunching-the-numbers/ (accessed September 30, 2025).

Pulman, A. and Fenge, L.-A., 2025. Caring and working: developing insights into the world of the working carer. Health & Social Care in the Community.

Pulman, A., Todres, L., & Galvin, K. (2010). The carer’s world: An interactive reusable learning object. Dementia, 9(4), 535-547.

Todres, L., & Galvin, K. (2006). Caring for a partner with Alzheimer’s disease: Intimacy, loss and the life that is possible. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 1, 50–61.

Making “ugly” attractive: Can the way in which imperfect fruit & vegetables are presented reduce “ugly” food waste?

A Presentation of BA Leverhulme Funded Research

Wednesday 29th October 2025, 3.30-5.00pm, DG06

The Centre for Sustainable & Socially Responsible Consumption (CSSRC) invites you to attend its research event on Wednesday 29th October 2025 to enjoy a presentation of BA Leverhulme funded research. After a welcome refreshment this interesting, interactive and informative event will comprise a topical presentation session, led by members of CSSRC and colleague, as outlined below. Opportunity for discussions and networking over drinks and nibbles after the talk will round off the event.

Making “ugly” attractive: Can the way in which imperfect fruit & vegetables are presented reduce “ugly” food waste?

Food waste is one of today’s most pressing sustainability challenges, with consumer rejection of imperfect or “ugly” fruit and vegetables contributing to the problem. Retailers and policymakers alike are searching for strategies that not only increase acceptance of this type of produce but also reduce waste in stores and households.

Questions to address are: How do shoppers actually view “ugly” fruit and vegetables? What selling approaches can help shift perceptions and purchasing behaviour?

This talk will be presented by Dr Guljira Manimont (BU), Dr Jay Kim (University of Strathclyde), and Professor Juliet Memery (BU). Funded by the British Academy, their project explores consumer responses to imperfect produce and offers insights with practical implications for retail practice and sustainability.

Provisional Timetable:

3.30-3.45pm – Welcome refreshments

3.45-4.30pm – Presentation sessions

4.30-5.00pm – Discussion, networking and refreshments

This is a free event, but you must register to attend via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-ugly-attractive-reducing-food-waste-tickets-1720479824469?aff=oddtdtcreator

About CSSRC

The Centre for Sustainable & Socially Responsible Consumption (CSSRC) aims to promote and advance the understanding of sustainable consumption and socially responsible consumption through developing and delivering internationally renowned research. It provides a hub to explore and address topics that are currently globally relevant, through utilising a strong interdisciplinary focus. Webpage: https://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/centre-sustainable-socially-responsible-consumption

CMWH well represented at International Labour and Birth Conference

The Centre for Midwifery and Women’s Health was well represented at last week’s International Labour and Birth Conference with presentations from Sara Stride, Dominique Mylod, and Vanora Hundley.

Sara StrideSara was presenting her doctoral work where she has used appreciative inquiry to explore midwives’ experience and processing following the occurrence of Obstetric Anal Sphincter injury (OASI) during spontaneous vaginal birth. Sara said that she found the conference and networking opportunities “inspiring and helpful for her PhD.”

Dominique and Vanora brought their prototype app, which has been designed to support women in the early phase of labour. This was well received by attendees and the next step is to evaluate its implementation into practice.Dom and Vanora

Dominique’s attendance at ILB Conference 2025 was supported by an award from the Science of Birth Research Cluster, University of British Columbia.

Megan Perkin’s work exploring breastfeeding experiences of women with visual impairment was presented as a poster. Unfortunately Megan was not able  to attend due to her clinical commitments, but Vanora was on hand to answer any questions.

 

BU paper among top 20 most cited papers

BRIAN, PG research, writing

The international journal Sociological Research Online ranked a paper written by Bournemouth University academics in its top twenty most cited papers in the past three years.  The methodological paper ‘Using a range of communication tools to interview a hard-to-reach population’ has as lead author Dr. Orlanda Harvey in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science.

Reference:

  1. Harvey, O., van Teijlingen, E., Parrish, M. (2024) Using a range of communication tools to interview a hard-to-reach population, Sociological Research Online 29(1): 221–232 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/13607804221142212

Nepal migrant workers returning from India

international, open access, Publishing, writing

Nepal has been in the world news this week for the wrong reasons, with young protesters burning down the parliament, and damaging many government building in all seven provinces.  Some 30 young people died in the process and and thousands of sometimes dangerous prisoners were freed.   After the political and social upheaval in the country this past week, Nepalese migrant workers are beginning to return home from India to be with their families. Today (Friday 12th September) the BBC online reported under the heading ‘Worried migrants head home from India after Nepal turmoil‘.

The journalist interviewed both migrant workers and students from Nepal living in India.  The piece also cited several studies on Nepalese migrant workers in India, including a Bournemouth University (BU) study with the title ‘The Health of Nepali Migrants in India: A Qualitative Study of Lifestyles and Risks‘ [1].  This publication is one of the many published papers on the health and well-being of Nepalese migrant workers conducted in BU’s Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences.  The lead author of this paper in theInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is Dr. Pramod Regmi, Principal Academic in International Health. 

 

References:

  1. Regmi PR, van Teijlingen E, Mahato P, Aryal N, Jadhav N, Simkhada P, Zahiruddin QS, Gaidhane A. (2019) The Health of Nepali Migrants in India: A Qualitative Study of Lifestyles and Risks. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 16(19):3655. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16193655.

 

New BU midwifery publication

NHS, open access, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

Congratulations to Laura Stedman in the Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH) on the publication of a new paper in the international academic journal Midwifery.  This new paper ‘Then they’re not there. Women’s experiences following admission of their newborn to a neonatal intensive care unit‘ [1], has been co-authored with two fellow midwives: Associate Prof. Catherine Angell and Prof. Vanora Hundley.

The paper reports an online study into the experiences of UK women been diagnosed with Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) whose baby was admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at or shortly after birth. The qualitative analysis identified two themes: ‘experience’ and ‘understanding’; the former had five sun-themes and the latter was based on three sub-themes. A lack of understanding and knowledge was identified, with calls for enhanced education and joint decision making. Women recalled feelings of grief, isolation and stress as a result of the admission. For many, this experience was traumatic with lasting effects. For babies born at term, feelings of surprise and separation were paramount, in contrast to those born pre-term.  The authors concluded that there is need for more education and improved material to support for those facing this outcome. Future research should also focus on reducing the incidence of admission to NICU for women who have received a diagnosis of GDM.

Well done!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Reference:
  1. Stedman, L., Angell, C., Hundley, V. (2025) Then they’re not there. Women’s experiences following admission of their newborn to a neonatal intensive care unit, Midwifery [online first]

UK Turing Scheme: My student mobility programme in Nepal

international, Knowledge Exchange, PG research, student research, Women's Academic Network

My name is Anjana Regmi Paudyal, and I am a PhD student in the Faculty of Health, Environment and Medical Sciences (HEMS), Bournemouth University (BU). My doctoral research focuses on modern slavery, particularly the opportunities and barriers to survivors reintegrating into their families and communities. I was honoured to take part in the Turing Scheme traineeship and other international academic activities in Nepal, which became a truly transformative experience both personally and professionally. The Turing Scheme lasted four weeks and was hosted by the Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) in Kathmandu.

My traineeship was arranged through Bournemouth University in partnership with MMIHS in Kathmanduand it was supported by my BU supervisors Dr. Orlanda Harvey and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen. I chose this placement because MMIHS has a strong research culture and offers opportunities to collaborate with students, faculty, and NGOs working in migration and modern slavery.

From the very beginning, I felt warmly welcomed by academics and students, which helped me settle in quickly. The first week was spent getting to know the university, its values, and its research culture. I particularly enjoyed informal discussions with first- and second-year MSc students, where we shared ideas and experiences across different academic settings.

By the second week, the focus shifted towards intensive academic engagement. I participated in a research workshop on grant applications, systematic reviews, and qualitative research methods led by expert guest speakers. These sessions sharpened my skills in data analysis and literature reviews, giving me fresh insights into areas highly relevant to my own PhD. Alongside this, I began engaging with NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) working in the field of migration and modern slavery. I met with Ms. Manju Gurung, Director of POURAKHI Nepal, an organisation that supports female returnee migrants and survivors of trafficking. I also gathered policy documents and insights from Green Tara Nepal (GTN) and the Nepal Development Society (NeDS), both of which have significant experience in migration health. These connections will help to shape my upcoming PhD fieldwork.

During the third week, it was my turn to share. I presented my PhD project, and my approach, using photo elicitation, is relatively new in Nepalese research, therefore, it sparked great curiosity among students and faculty. The discussions that followed were highly rewarding, especially around ethical considerations and practical challenges. I was struck by the students’ engagement, particularly the second-year MSc cohort, who found the sessions useful for their own research journeys.

As my time in Nepal came to an end, I reflected on the differences between teaching and learning styles in the UK and Nepal. I spoke with students about the UK system, where independent study and varied assessment methods are emphasised, which was particularly valuable for those considering postgraduate studies abroad. Beyond academia, I was fortunate to experience cultural festivals within and beyond Kathmandu Valley, which deepened my appreciation of Nepal’s vibrant traditions and community spirit.

I was fortunate to witness the “Gaijatra Festival” in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Gai Jatra is a Newari Hindu festival that honours deceased loved ones by parading decorated cows or children dressed as cows through the streets. The belief is that cows guide souls to the afterlife. Celebrated around the August full moon, the festival features music, dance, humor, and satire to provide comfort to grieving families and encourage them to embrace life despite their loss.

Looking back, this traineeship not only enhanced my academic and research skills but also strengthened my confidence in working across cultures and linking theory with practice. It confirmed my motivation to pursue a global research career and taught me the importance of being open, flexible, and curious. My greatest achievement was being able to present and discuss my methodology with such an engaged audience, while also building long-term connections with NGOs and academic partners.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the Turing Scheme to other students. It is challenging but deeply rewarding, offering the chance to grow personally, academically, and professionally while contributing meaningfully to international collaborations.  The environment at MMIHS was welcoming, though more structured compared to the UK. Students showed huge interest in UK teaching and assessment styles. Most academic sessions were in English, but some conversations were in Nepali, which helped me practice my language skills and build rapport.

If you get the opportunity: Say yes to goin abroad on the Turing Scheme.  It challenges you, but the growth and insights are worth it. I am much more confident working with diverse groups, whether in academic or NGO settings. Presenting my PhD methodology in Nepal and receiving recognition and engagement from students and academics. Academic presentation, intercultural dialogue, trauma-informed sensitivity, networking with NGOs, and collaborative learning. Absolutely. The Turing Scheme was transformative for both my personal and professional development.

Bournemouth University psychologists publish new book

Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

The international publisher Routledge published earlier this month a new book with the title: The Psychology of Stress [1].  The three authors of this excellent book are: Drs. Charlotte Mottram, Alison Woodward and Shanti Farrington.  The latter two academics are based in Bournemouth University’s Psychology Department.

Well done and congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Reference:

  1. Mottram, C., Woodward, A. & Farrington, S. (2025). The Psychology of Stress London: Routledge.

Connecting Research with Practice: FoodMAPP Secondment in Austria and France

international

Our Bournemouth University team visited Baden, Austria, for a secondment with Ronge & Partner — Austria’s leading large-scale kitchen consulting firm. This was part of the EU-funded FoodMAPP project and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchange, which connects research with industry.

In Austria,  Professor Melanie Klinkner (International Law), Professor Jeff Bray (Consumer Behaviour), Dr Quyhn Nguyen (Hospitality Management), and myself, Dr Guljira Manimont (Food Marketing and Advertising) discussed with Ronge & Partner to explore how food service practices can better support local sourcing. These discussions are shaping FoodMAPP’s interactive platform, which connects consumers with local producers to reduce waste and enhance traceability.

After this visit, Dr Quynh Nguyen and myself, Dr Guljira Manimont continued to Lyon, France, where we visited Institut Lyfe — a leading centre for hospitality, food service, and culinary arts education. Welcomed by Dr Maxime Michaud, Head of the Social Sciences team, and Calixte Engelberg, we toured the campus and explored how research can be integrated into hospitality training and industry practice.

FoodMAPP is developing an interactive, map-based platform designed to connect consumers with locally produced food. This tool aims to reduce food waste, promote regional food economies, and improve food traceability. The secondment with Ronge & Partner, for example, provided us with valuable insights into the operational realities of the food service and kitchen design sector — a critical link between food producers and consumers.

The MSCA Staff Exchange programme has played a vital role in making this kind of exchange possible. It allows researchers to step outside the academic environment, test ideas in real-world settings, and build partnerships that help ensure our work delivers real, tangible impact.

As food marketing researchers (doing what we arguably do best), we took the chance to experience Austria’s food culture firsthand by visiting traditional Heurigen — small, family-run wine taverns known for their local wines, breads, cured meats, and fresh produce.

In Lyon, we focused on the city’s bakeries, sampling artisan breads that showcase the region’s strong food heritage. These moments brought home the real value of local and transparent food systems, which lie at the heart of FoodMAPP’s mission.

PS: Having spent four weeks based in these foodie spots, I compiled a list of favourite spots to eat and drink. If you’re ever in Vienna or Lyon, feel free to get in touch—I’d be happy to share it! 🙂

Health promotion paper read 8,000 times

international, open access, Publishing, writing

This morning ResearchGate informed us that our paper ‘Understanding health education, health promotion and public health‘ [1] which was published in 2021 has been read 8,000 times.  This thinking piece delves into the differences between the concepts of: (a) health education; (b) health promotion; and (c) public health. This confusion does not limit itself to the individual terms, but also to how these terms relate to each other. Some use terms such as health education and health promotion interchangeably; others see them clearly as different concepts. The paper starts by outlining the authors’ understanding of these individual terms.

They suggest how the five principles of health promotion as outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO, 1984) fit into Tannahill’s (2009) model of three overlapping areas: (a) health education; (b) prevention of ill health; and (c) health protection. Such schematic overview places health education within health promotion and health promotion itself in the centre of the overarching disciplines of education and public health.  The authors hope their article helps reduce confusion among all those interested in our discipline, including students, educators, journalists, practitioners, policymakers, politicians, and researchers.

 

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMWH

 

Reference:

  1. van Teijlingen, K. R., Devkota, B., Douglas, F., Simkhada, P., & van Teijlingen, E. R. (2021). Understanding health education, health promotion and public health. Journal of Health Promotion, 9(01), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v9i01.40957