Tagged / congratulations

SONAMONI contributions to Safety Conference 2026 in South Africa

PG research

In the first week of September colleagues working on our SONAMONI project presented preliminary results at the Safety Conference 2026 in Cape Town, the Republic of South Africa.   In total, six abstracts from the Sonamoni Project had been accepted.  The first paper presented by BU PhD student Md. Shafkat Hossain was highlighted in a previous BU Research Blog (see here!).

Our Bangladesh-based collaborators, CIPRB (Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh) presented papers with the following sunmmaries:

  • Understanding mothers’ caregiving routines is essential to develop appropriate interventions; however, traditional local practice restricts opportunities for women to participate in the HCD process. Therefore, a study was conducted to explore ways to overcome these restrictions to ensure gender representation during the development and implementation of drowning prevention interventions in rural Bangladesh.
  • The objective of the second abstract was to explore community perceptions and their prioritization of the proposed drowning prevention solutions.
  • The objective of the third abstract was to explore the use of different visual tools that assisted the researchers, designers, and the community to develop more acceptable and sustainable drowning prevention interventions in rural Bangladesh.
  • The objective of the fourth study was to identify the association between household income, caregiving investment, child supervision, childcare-related expenses, and exposure to drowning risk among children under 2 years in Bangladesh.

The presenters’ names were: Notan Chandra Dutta, Research Manager; Shibat Mirza Rowshan, HCD Specialist; Mahbub Hasan, Research Officer (Health Economics).

Furthermore, our collaborator Dr. Becky Sindall, Senior International Advocacy Manager at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Poole contributed to a session on ‘Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Policy’.

SONAMONI is jointly coordinated by Bournemouth University (BU) and CIPRB), working with the University of the West of England, Bristol, the University of Southampton, Design Without Borders (DWB) in Uganda, and the RNLI. We are working to reduce drownings among newly-mobile children, generally those under two years old. This £1.6m project has been made possible thanks to a grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through their Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science

 

New interdisciplinary paper on Nepal

international, open access, PG research, writing

Congratulations to Dr. Pramod Regmi on yesterday’s publication of ‘Strengthening evidence on migrant workers’ health in Nepal’ in the international scientific journal Discover Public Health [1].  Co-authors on this paper include Bournemouth University’s (BU) Ph.D. student Anjana Paudyal and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen (in CMWH), former BU member of staff Dr. Nirmal Aryal, and BU’s Visiting Faculty Prof.Padam Simkhada (based at the University of Chester) as well as our North American collaborator in the ENSURE project, Dr. Heath Prince.

Further congratulations are due to Dr. Regmi who was also accepted as by the UKGCE as recognised research supervisor!

Labour migration is a vital economic driver for Nepal, yet it poses significant health risks to migrant workers, with many suffering from chronic illnesses and high mortality rates abroad. This paper emphasizes the need for a systematic approach to utilize existing health data from pre-departure screenings and returnee assessments, advocating for an integrated electronic health database to inform targeted health interventions and improve the overall well-being of Nepalese migrant workers.

 

Reference:

  1. Regmi, P., Pant, P.R., Faller, E.M., Paudyal, A.R., Aryal, N., Paudyal, P., Simkhada, P., Prince, H.J., van Teijlingen, E. (2026) Strengthening evidence on migrant workers’ health in Nepal. Discover Public Health 23, 1495. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-02877-z

New BU Social Work paper published this week

Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

Congratulations to Dr. Louise Oliver and Orlanda Harvey on yesterday’s publication of ‘A Picture of Christian Grey: Using Narrative Analysis to Explore How Coercive Controlling Behaviors in Intimate Relationships Can Be Romanticized Within Fiction’ in the academic journal Humanities [1]. Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPVA) is a public health phenomenon due to its prevalence and impact across the world.

The authors examine how coercive and controlling behaviors within intimate relationships are obfuscated, in other words, thrown into the shadows, romanticized, and normalized within romantic fiction, further adding to this global issue. Fifty Shades (novel series) - Wikipedia The “Fifty Shades of Grey” series is interpreted through the use of narrative analysis and the framework of Craven’s “Dominator” model. This illustrates how the distinct perpetrator personas, the Headworker, the Persuader, the King of the Castle, the Jailer, the Liar, the Bully, and the Sexual Controller, are present in the actions of the male protagonist throughout the series of books. This paper identifies how these books portray such behaviors that are used to coerce and control as desirable expressions of protection, masculinity, desire, and love. This paper, therefore, suggests that such texts contribute to the normalization of abusive relationships, embedding them within the cultural ideals of romantic love and, therefore, sustaining abusive relationships.

Well done!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health

 

Reference:

  1. Oliver, L., & Harvey, O. (2026). A Picture of Christian Grey: Using Narrative Analysis to Explore How Coercive Controlling Behaviors in Intimate Relationships Can Be Romanticized Within Fiction, Humanities 15(10): 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/h15100141

Journal of Advanced Nursing 50 years of publishing

BRIAN, international, Publishing, writing

I would like to thank my colleague Dr. Leslie Gellingm, Associate Professor of Nursing in the Faculty f Health, Environment and Medical Science (HEMS) for reminding my on LinkedIn that one the leading global nursing journals, the Journal of Advanced Nursing is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Over the past five decades the Journal of Advanced Nursing has published nearly 14 thousand papers.  According to SCOPUS our 2008 paper ‘Factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care in developing countries: systematic review of the literature‘ [1] is still in the top 30 most cited papers of the journal.  With 661 citations it is the 30th most quoted paper out of 13,585!  It is also the most cited paper on SCOPUS for all four co-authors, two of whom, Dr. Bibha Simkhada (University of Huddersfield) and Prof. Padam Simkhada (University of Chester) are BU Visiting Faculty in HEMS .

 

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Reference:

  1. Simkhada B, van Teijlingen ER, Porter M, Simkhada P. (2008) Factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care in developing countries: systematic review of the literature. Journal of Advanced Nursing,  61(3):244-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04532.x. PMID: 18197860.

 

Joint NHS -BU article published on Midwifery & Public Health

Today Discover Public Health published a new joint paper written by University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) and Bournemouth University staff.  This latest paper ‘The evolving relationship between public health and midwifery in the United Kingdom’ [1] appeared in the open access journal Discover Public Health. The authors are: Beth Fletcher, Public Health Lead Maternity Services at UHD, Jillian Ireland, bank midwife and former Professional Midwifery Advocate at UHD as well as Visiting Faculty in BU’s Faculty of Health, Environment & Health Sciences, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, co-director of BU’s Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health.

The authors had originally submitted the paper under the title ‘UK Midwifery and Public Health: Perfect partners or unhappy bedfellows?’ but one of the reviewers (and the editor) thought the more neutral ”The evolving relationship between public health and midwifery in the United Kingdom’ was better suited.

There is a cautionary tale as the authors were under the impression, at the time of submission, that Discover Public Health was still a journal in which one could publish without paying a so-called APC (article Processing Charge).  It turned out that this was no longer the case, and although Bournemouth University has a deal with Springer, the publisher of Discover Public Health, this is only to the value of 15% of the APC.  Since publising in the journal is expensive at £ 1,790.00 per article Bournemouth University had large additional amount.

References:

  1.  Fletcher, B., Ireland, J., van Teijlingen, E. (2026) ‘The evolving relationship between public health and midwifery in the United Kingdom, Discover Public Health, 23;1330. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12982-026-02740-1

 

 

New interdisciplinary paper accepted for publication

international, open access, Women's Academic Network

Today we heard from the Editor in Chief of the Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences that our paper ‘Ethical Entrepreneurship in Pharmacy: An Interdisciplinary Solution to a Global Public Health Problem‘ has been accepted for publication [1].  This paper has three Bournemouth academics as co-author: Dr. Pramod Regmi, Dr. Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen. The paper is truly interdisciplinary, the six authors have disciplinary backgrounds in: pharmacy, health education, public health, business studies, economics, health services research and sociology. 

This viewpoint offers a different way of looking at the worldwide problem of the increased use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. In low-income countries, such as Nepal, pharmacies have a key role in dispensing medicine, and local pharmacies often provide health care advice in rural communities. However, the way many pharmacies operate can easily lead to unethical practices that are harmful to the health of their recipients, but also to the wider population. Such dangerous business practices involve inappropriate prescription and dispensing of medicine (i.e. antibiotics). Public health professionals have promoted better regulation and education to reduce the use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance. These approaches have an important place to play, but in this paper, we propose one particular intervention, namely the training of community pharmacy shop owners in sustainable and ethical entrepreneurship. To offer greater insights into the issue we have produced a theoretical framework. We suggest interventions should be co-created with all relevant stakeholders to change perceptions of entrepreneurship, offer management training, thus promoting an ethical and sustainable business culture, and in the long run, improve pharmacy education in these areas.

The Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences is an Open Access journal, hence freely available to read when it gets published.

Reference:

  1. Regmi, P.R., Ayatakshi-Endow, S., Rajkarnikar, R., van Teijlingen, E., Khanal, D.P., Poudel, R.S. (2026) Ethical Entrepreneurship in Pharmacy: An Interdisciplinary Solution to a Global Public Health Problem?” Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences (EJMS) (accepted July 2026).

BU contributions to successful Global Health conference

conferences, international, Publishing, writing

Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen attended this week’s Global Consortium for Public Health Research (GCPHR) 4th Annual Conference at the University of Huddersfield.  The conference was very well attended with delegates from India, Nepal, Ghana, Finland and the UK.  BU’s contribution included a poster on the recently completed study on kidney disease in Nepalese migrant workers, a study funded by The Colt Foundation.

Prof. Chandra Kala Sharma, President of Nursing Association of Nepal and Dr. Bibha Simkhada, Reader in Nursing at the University of Huddersfield presented on ‘Implementing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in Nursing in Nepal’.  In this very topical presentation they highlighted the importance of the research conducted in Nepal by UK universities (which included Bournemouth University) in getting the regulations changed in Nepal around CPD.  This effect of research into CPD in Nursing will make a useful REF Impact Case Study.

Both Pramod and Edwin chaired a session on different days of the conference.  Whilst Prof. van Teijlingen gave an invited presentation on the topic of ‘Equitable participation on academic publications’.    He also facilitated a Round Table Discussion with five selected panel members on the final day.

New paramedic science paper by BU’s Dr. Ursula Rolfe

NHS, writing

Congratulations to Dr. Ursula Rolfe in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science on the publication of her latest paper ‘Paramedics’ management of people experiencing mental health issues: An investigation of knowledge gaps and support needs in England‘ [1].  The paper is co-authored with colleagues from the University of Southampton and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, Wessex.  The paper highlights that demand for mental health care from U.K. ambulance services is increasing, yet paramedics report feeling underprepared to manage these presentations. This study aimed to identify knowledge gaps, educational needs, and systemic factors shaping frontline paramedics’ ability to provide mental health care in England, examining: (1) mental health education and training at pre- and post-registration levels; and (2) paramedics’ experiences of managing mental health presentations. A two-phase mixed-methods design was employed across the country.
Congratulations!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health
Reference:
Zecchinato, F., Rolfe, U., Sloan, H, Campling, N. (2026) Paramedics’ management of people experiencing mental health issues: An investigation of knowledge gaps and support needs in England, Paramedicine [ONLINE FIRST]   https://doi.org/10.1177/27536386261467717

BU students’ publishing success

BRIAN, NHS, PG research, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

This week the international Open Access journal PLOS One published a paper co-written by BU staff and students.  The paper is called ‘Antenatal education for labour and postpartum pain: A scoping review of content, delivery approaches, evidence gaps, and lived experiences‘ [1].  This scoping review involves two M.Res students and one Ph.D. student and two of these students were originally BU undergraduate students.
Congratulations!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Reference:
  1. Sloyan E, Leddy E, Clark C, Dufour S, Harper R, Dunford A, Elam, Öl. (2026) Antenatal education for labour and postpartum pain: A scoping review of content, delivery approaches, evidence gaps, and lived experiences. PLoS One 21(6): e0330399. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0330399

First publication for two CMWH PhD students

NHS, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

Congratulations to CMWH doctoral student Jennah Evans who has published the first paper from her PhD in the Journal of Human Lactation. The scoping review protocol outlines a transparent and reproducible method for investigating the relationship between stress and the human milk ejection reflex, addressing a significant knowledge gap in the literature.  Jennah and her supervisors (including CMWH member Dr Dominique Mylod) are also aiming to improve understanding of D-MER, a challenging condition associated with intense negative emotions during breastfeeding.

Congratulations are also due a second  CMWH doctoral student Louise Barton, whose paper ‘Southampton’s approach to smoking cessation has been accepted by MIDIRS Midwifery Digest and the paper will be pubished its June issue.  Smoking during pregnancy is the leading yet preventable causes a whole range of illnesses.  Louise’s PhD is an assessment of Southampton’s Midwifery-led Integrated Antenatal Care Pathway.  Her PhD is supervised by CMWH academics Dr. Daisy Wiggins and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.
References:
Evans, J.M., Paul, R., Wezyk, A.B., Mylod, D. (2026) Exploring the Association Between Stress and the Experience of the Milk Ejection Reflex: A Scoping Review Protocol. Journal of Human Lactation Online First https://doi.org/10.1177/08903344261433846

Barton, L., van Teijlingen, E., Wiggins, D., Loader, R.-A., White, A. (2026) Southampton’s approach to smoking cessation, MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, 36(2): 145–151.

Evidence Synthesis Centre open at Kathmandu University

Awarded & submitted bids, international, Knowledge Exchange, Publishing, Training, writing

Last week we opened the Evidence Synthesis Centre in the School of Medical Sciences at Kathmandu University in Nepal.  The centre is part of a wider initiative is funded by The British Academy and supported in the field by Green Tara Nepal. Earlier parts of this initiative included online workshop on systematic reviewing and evidence synthesis as well as face-to-face training in Nepal late last year.  The project involved Bournemouth University’s Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen both in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences. 

This capacity-building project is led by Prof. Padam Simkhada from the University of Huddersfield and takes place at Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS). This new Fellowship scheme is an international collaboration led by the University of Huddersfield in the UK, in close collaboration with Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (in Nepal), the Nepal Health Research Council, and several UK universities: Bournemouth University, the University of Sheffield, Canterbury Christ Church University, Keele University and the University of Chester. The Evidence Synthesis Centre and The British Academy grant grew out of an editorial written four years ago and published in the Journal of the Nepal Health Research Council [1]. The wider British Academy funded project on strengthening evidence  synthesis for health policy-making in Nepal has been described in two recent publications [2-3].

 

 

References:

  1. Simkhada, P., Dhimal, M., van Teijlingen, E., Gyanwali, P. (2022) Nepal Urgently Needs a National Evidence Synthesis Centre,  Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 20 (3): i-ii.
  2. Simkhada, P., Vaidya, A., Regmi, P. P., Paudyal, P., van Teijlingen, E., Dhimal, M., Kiorala, B., Shrestha, A., Simkhada, B. (2025). Strengthening Evidence Synthesis for Health Policymaking in Nepal: A New Fellowship Initiative. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology, 15(2), 1379–1380. https://doi.org/10.3126/nje.v15i2.88516
  1. Vaidya, A., Simkhada, P., Silwal, R. C., Paudyal, P., Dhimal, M., Simkhada, B., van Teijlingen, E. (2025). Progress of the Unique Fellowship in Health Research Evidence Synthesis in Nepal. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology, 15(4), 1397–1398. https://doi.org/10.3126/nje.v15i4.88535