- 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
Tagged / congratulations
First publication for two CMWH PhD students
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.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.
Dr. Fenton advises The Active Pregnancy Foundation
Dr. Malika Fenton has been invited to join the Scientific Advisory Board for the charity The Active Pregnancy Foundation (APF).
The APF are a registered charity dedicated to breaking down barriers to engagement with physical activity during the preconception, pregnancy and the postnatal life stages. She was already a This Mum Moves Ambassador and share the APF’s resources with women given any opportunity. Malika says she is looking forward to taking a more active role in the organisation of APF. Dr. Malika Fenton is Senior Lecturer in Health & Exercise Physiology, based in the Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health in Bournemouth University’s Faculty of Health, Environment and Medical Sciences (HEMS).
Congratulations!
Profs. Vanora Hundley and Edwin van Teijlingen
BU M.Res. student’s evidence to UK Parliamentary Women & Equalities Committee
Last week, to coincide with International Women’s Day, the Parliamentary Women and Equalities Committee of published its report on improving menstrual health [1]. This report ‘Menstrual health of girls and young women‘ includes a submission by BU M.Res. student Susara Blunden [2]. Susara is currently conducting her M.Res. research on endometriosis, a condition which affects more women than many people realise.
Susara Blunden balances her job as a women’s health research midwife at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) NHS Foundation Trust with a place on the National Institute for Heath and Care Research (NIHR)’s INSIGHT programme.
Endometriosis is not a problem unique to the UK, as last week a national newspaper in the Netherlands also under the heading ‘So much pain that you can’t to anything anymore’ [3]. This same newspaper article added that on average women suffer seven years of pain before they are diagnosed with endometriosis. A similar delay can be found in the UK and the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen noted more generally that: “The Committee is not convinced that the menstrual and gynaecological needs of young women and girls has been sufficiently prioritised in wider reforms to the healthcare system.”
References:
- Women and Equalities Committee (2026) ‘Menstrual health of girls and young women‘ Twelfth Report of Session 2024–26 [HC 1265], See online: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/51887/documents/287889/default/
- Written evidence from Susara Blunden RM, Women’s Health Research Midwife and Dr. Edwin van Teijlingen, Professor of Reproductive Health, Bournemouth University, Fiona Yelnoorkar RN, RM, Senior Research Leader, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Priscilla Fernandez, RN RM, Specialist Research Nurse/Midwife, Edinburgh University [RGW0073] See online: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/149205/html/
- Melse, N. (2026) Zoveel pijn dat je niets meer kunt, AD [dinsdag 3 maart/Tuesday 3rd March].
Evidence Synthesis Centre open at Kathmandu University
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:
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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.
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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
- 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
Visiting Prof. Sujan Marahatta presenting at BU
Prof. Sujan Marahatta from Nepal will be presenting at Bournemouth University about Competency-based education of health professionals in Nepal. He will be speaking on Monday March 9th in a session jointly organised by the Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMWH) and the Centre for Wellbeing and Long-Term Health (CWLTH). The session will be in the Bournemouth Gateway Building (BGB) room 407 from 10.00 till 12.00. Prof. Marahatta is currently the Director of the Medical Education Commission in Nepal overseeing the education on the country of a wide range of health professionals including nurses and midwives. Prof. Marahatta is Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences (FHEMS)and has been so for nearly a decade. He is also a co-author on many publications with several past and present academics in the Faculty of Health, Environment and Medical Sciences [1-20]. Former BU academics with whom Prof. Marahatta is a co-author include: Bibha Simkhada, Nirmal Aryal, Malcolm McIver, Preeti Mahato, Elaine Asbridge, Jana Kuncova, and Anneyce Knight, whilst co-authors currently based at BU include: Dr. Catherine Angell, Prof. Carol Clark, Dr. Pramod Regmi, Prof. Vanora Hundley, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.
References:
- Simkhada P, van Teijlingen E, Marahatta SB. Mental health services in Nepal: Is it too late? Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 2015:1(4):1-2.
- Simkhada P, van Teijlingen E, Winter RC, Fanning C, Dhungel A, Marahatta SB. Why are so many Nepali women killing themselves? A review of Key issues. Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 2015:1(4):43-49.
- Simkhada B, Mackay S, Khatri R, Sharma CK., Pokhrel T, Marahatta SB., Angell C, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P. (2016) Continual Professional Development (CPD): Improving Health Prospect15 (3):1-3.
- Regmi PR, Simkhada P, van Teijlingen E, Pant PR, Kurmi O, Marahatta SB. What can we learn from the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015? JMMIHS 2017;3 (1):1-5.
- van Teijlingen E, Marahatta SB, Simkhada P, McIver M, Sharma JS. Developing an international higher education partnership between high and low-income countries: two case studies.
- Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences 2017;3 (1):94-100.
- Simkhada P, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada, B, Regmi P, Aryal N, Marahatta SB. Experts warn Nepal government not to reduce local public health spending. Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences. 2018;4(1):1-3.
- Regmi PR, van Teijlingen E, Neupane SR, Marahatta SB. Hormone use among Nepali transgender women: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2019;9:e030464. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2019-030464
- Adhikarya, P., Balen, J., Gautam, S., Ghimire, S., Karki, J., Lee, A., Marahatta, SB., Panday, S., Pohl, G., Rushton, S., Sapkota, S., Simkhada, P.P., Subedi, M., van Teijlingen, E., & the Nepal Federal Health System team (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: Emerging evidence on the effectiveness of action by, and cooperation between, different levels of government in a federal system, Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences 2020;3;3-9.
- Sathian, B., Asim, M., Mekkodathil, A., van Teijlingen, E., Subramanya, S.H., Simkhada, P., Marahatta, S.B., Shrestha, U.M. (2020) Impact of COVID-19 on community health: A systematic review of a population of 82 million, Journal of Advanced Internal Medicine 2020; 9(1): 4-11. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JAIM/article/view/29159
- Khatri, RJ, van Teijlingen, E, Marahatta, SB, Simkhada, P, Mackay, S and Simkhada, B. Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities for Continuing Professional Development for Nurses: A Qualitative Study with Senior Nurse Leaders in Nepal. Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences. 2021 7(1):15-29.
- Sapkota S, Panday S, Wasti, S.P., Lee, A., Balen, J., van Teijlingen, E., Rushton, S., Subedi, M., Gautam, S., Karki., J., Adhikary, P., Marahatta SB et al.,Health System Strengthening: The Role of Public Health in Federal Nepal JNEPHA. 2022;7(1):36-42.
- van Teijlingen, E., Thapa, D., Marahatta, S.B., Sapkota, J.L., Regmi, P. Sathian, B. (2022) Editors and Reviewers: Roles and Responsibilities, In: Wasti, S.P., et al. (Eds.) Academic Writing and Publishing in Health & Social Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal: Himal Books: 32-37.
- Mahato P, Adhikari B, Marahatta SB, et al. (2023) Perceptions around COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy: A qualitative study in Kaski district, Western Nepal. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(2): e0000564. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000564
- Marahatta SB, Regmi P, Knight A, Kuncova J, Asbridge E, Khanal DP, van Teijlingen E. Staff-student exchange between MMIHS and Bournemouth University. Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences. 2023;8(1)1-5
- Sapkota S, Dhakal A, Rushton S, van Teijlingen E, Marahatta SB, Lee ACK, Balen J. The impact of decentralisation on health systems: a systematic review of reviews. BMJ Global Health 2023;8:e013317. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2023-013317
- Sapkota, S, Rushton S, van Teijlingen E. Marahatta SB et al. Participatory policy analysis in health policy and systems research: reflections from a study in Nepal. Health Research Policy & Systems 22, 7 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01092-5
- Wasti SP, van Teijlingen E, Simkhada P, Rushton S, Balen J, Subedi M, Marahatta SB et al. Selection of study sites and participants for research into Nepal’s federal health system. WHO South-East Asia J Public Health 2023;12:116-9.
- Clark CJ, Marahatta SB, Hundley VA. The prevalence of pain catastrophising in nulliparous women in Nepal; the importance for childbirth. PLoS ONE 2024;19(8): e0308129. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308129.
- Sapkota, S., Rushton, S., van Teijlingen, E., Subedi, M., Balen, J., Gautam, S., Adhikary, P., Simkhada, P., Wasti, SP., Karki, JK., Panday, S., Karki, A., Rijal, B., Joshi, S., Basnet, S., Marahatta, SB. (2024) Participatory policy analysis in health policy and systems research: reflections from a study in Nepal. Health Research & Policy Systems, 22(7) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-01092-5 .
New Social Work text with BU editors
Congratulations to Jonathan Parker, Ivan Gray, Andrew Morris and Sally Lee, the editors of the fourth edition of Newly-Qualified Social Workers: A Practice Guide to the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment [1]. This new edition has eleven chapters. Apart from the various chapters produced or co-produced by the editors, this 2026 text also include a chapter by two further Bournemouth University academics, including Dr. Richard Williams and Dr. Louise Oliver. The latter contributed ‘Chapter 7: Research and NQSW: Developing yourself as a research minded and critically reflective practitioner’.
Congratulations!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences
Reference:
- Parker, J., Gray, I., Morris, A. and Lee, S. (eds.), Newly-Qualified Social Workers: A Practice Guide to the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (4th edn.), London: Learning Matters, SAGE, 2026.
High five! New FishE papers support the evidence base for conserving threatened species and habitats
Providing the evidence base to support conservation actions that protect species and habitats in aquatic ecosystems is a key task in the Fish Ecology and Conservation Research Cluster (FishE). This week, five articles published or accepted for publication will contribute strongly to this evidence base, with the work co-created with a number of funders and collaborating organisations.
Sotiris Meletiou’s PhD is on the conservation biology and management of the critically endangered European eel in Cyprus – which is at the eastern edge of their range and far away from their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea (Atlantic Ocean). Until now, an eel management plan was not required for Cyprus as any eels present were not believed to metamorphose into adult silver eels and not emigrate back to their spawning grounds. Sotiris’ new paper in the Journal of Fish Biology demonstrates that silver eels are indeed present in Cyprus and do attempt to emigrate to sea, and so should drive the formation of a management plan that should result in greater eel protection and conservation in the eastern Mediterranean.
Simone Cittadino’s research is assessing how freshwater fish respond to saline incursion events from the sea into lowland rivers. these events driven by high spring tides, exacerbated by climate change driven rising sea levels and weather events. His new paper in Hydrobiologia assesses the general movements of a key fish species in the Norfolk Broads, the common bream, highlighting the importance of high habitat connectivity for their movements across this large protected wetland. This work will provide a strong basis for the rest of his PhD research.
Phillip Haubrock, a Marie Curie Incoming postdoctoral Fellow, identified how conservation efforts across the world have been affected by research that is limited by political borders and the restricted availability of data. He and his co-authors argue in Conservation Biology that supra-national and better open-data governance should be capable of overcoming this and lead to better conservation outcomes.
Two articles just accepted for publication this week also contribute strongly to the conservation evidence base. Jonas Palder’s first publication from his PhD was accepted in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, which assessed the increased mortality risk for threatened European shads caused by human constructed barriers within rivers. Robert Britton worked with Gabby Valle, one of our School’s 2024/25 MSc Biodiversity Conservation students, to get her research project data published, which was assessing the risk of a biological invasion in Britain by the globally invasive and ecologically damaging common carp. Their manuscript has also just been accepted for publication in the Journal of Fish Biology.
Congratulations to all involved!
British Academy funded capacity-building training in Nepal
Yesterday we reached third day of the three-day Fellowship training workshop in Dhulikhel, Nepal on evidence synthesis. This capacity-building project is led by 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. This unique Fellowship started online in the autumn of 2025 and is part of a larger project on strengthening institutional knowledge and capacity of federal, provincial and local governments for evidence-informed health policymaking in Nepal. This important initiative is funded by The British Academy and supported in the field by Green Tara Nepal [1]. The project involved Bournemouth University’s Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen both in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences.
Some 28 Fellows have been selected from nearly one hundred applicants to help build capacity in the field of evidence synthesis with overall aim to promote evidence-informed policymaking in Nepal. This is longstanding aim of the researcher as highlighted in previous call for an evidence-based policy centre in Nepal [2].
1. Simkhada P, Vaidyal A, Regmi P, Paudyal P, van Teijlingen E, Dhimal M, Koirala B, Shresthe 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
2. Simkhada P, Dhimal M, van Teijlingen E, Gyanwali P (2022). Nepal Urgently Needs a National Evidence Synthesis Centre, Nepal Journal of Epidemiology, 20 (3): i-ii.
Writing policy briefs
This week saw the publication of ‘Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs‘ co-authored by Bournemouth University’s (BU) Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen as well as former BU staff Dr. Nirmal Aryal. An effective policy brief bridges the gap between research findings and policymaking, ensuring that evidence is presented succinctly and in a way that is accessible and usable for policymakers and relevant stakeholders. It is an important step in what is called knowledge mobilisation. However, many researchers find it hard to communicate the findings of their studies to relevant policymakers, whilst policymakers note that the evidence they need is not easily accessible and is often not presented in an accessible format. Producing policy briefs is one of the approaches which academics can use to get their research noticed by policymakers.
This practical paper outlines some of the trials and tribulations of producing policy briefs, based on real-world research. It offers several recommendations to help improve the writing and dissemination of policy briefs. The paper is published in an Open Access journal hence freely available to anybody across the globe with internet access.
References:
- van Teijlingen, E., Balen, J., Regmi, P., Rushton, S., Simkhada, P., Aryal, N. (2025). Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs. Journal of Health Promotion, 13(1),:89–96. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v13i1.87170
Up2U: New BU academic publication
Congratulations to the interdisciplinary BU team on the publication of the paper ‘Up2U: designing and validating a new evidence-based programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse who want to change’ in Frontiers in Psychology [1]. The new paper is part of the series ‘The Dynamics of Emotion Regulation and Aggressiveness in Gender-Based Violence Contexts’, and it appeared in an Open Access journal and is therefore easily accessible.
Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue rooted in patterns of power and control, contributing to a significant number of high-harm offenses both in the UK and internationally. While programmes have been aiming to disrupt abusive cycles through the understanding and recognition of harm, there is widespread disagreement on what effective interventions should look like. This paper addresses this gap.
The authors of this paper include both psychologists and social workers, as well as a student co-author. The lead author, Terri Cole, is a Principal Academic in Forensic Psychology.
Congratulations!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Reference:
- Cole, T., Oliver, L., Harvey, O., Healy, J., Sperryn, A., Barbin, A. (2025) Up2U: designing and validating a new evidence-based programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse who want to change, Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 16 – 28 Nov.2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1676490
New BU midwifery paper
Congratulations to HEMS colleagues on their recently published paper in MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. This new qualitative publication focuses on the ‘Barriers to the uptake of healthy eating messages by Black African immigrant pregnant women living in the UK: midwives’ perspectives’ [1]. The paper grew out of Aniebiet Ekong’s PhD research on this topic which was supervised by Drs. Pramod Regmi, Juliet Wood, and Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor.
Reference:
- Ekong A, Regmi P, Wood J, Hewitt-Taylor J. Barriers to the uptake of healthy eating messages by Black African immigrant
pregnant women living in the UK: midwives’ perspectives MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, 35(4): 372–383.
Using Art to enhance Research
Earlier this year Sara Stride, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Science (HEMS), applied to a joint venture between Bournemouth University and BEAF Arts Co, a multi-art form festival and year-round arts programme. She was awarded funding for the fees and materials of a local artist, to help her share the findings from her excellent PhD research project. Sara’s research explores midwives’ experience when women that they have cared for sustain birth injuries. Midwives report experiencing physical and emotional problems or feelings of guilt and shame.
A novel research method Appreciative Inquiry was used as an approach that is particularly appropriate for sensitive topics, to help participants reflect on their experiences together [1-3]. Participants used creative methods of storytelling, clay, drawing and mosaics to share reflections, what works for them and how this helped them professionally and personally.
Sara commented: “As a researcher I could see how therapeutic it was for midwives to participate in the discussions whilst using the creative resources. This inspired me to apply to work with the artist to capture the research findings in an image. As a visual learner myself I felt that this would help me to share my research findings in a way that using words alone may not be able to convey.”
The local artist, Corrianna Clarke, had chosen Sara’s project, and Cora created a digital image to portray the research findings. They had several meetings to discuss the initial images and colour palette, research participants research were asked for feedback on the image. Their comments were very positive and they did not feel there was anything missing. They hoped that others would understand the “feeling of being cared for” and the importance of “protection, care and working together”.
Sara felt that her collaboration with Cora really captured the value of how midwives work together. Sara added: “It was an amazing opportunity to work with an expert in another field, as we learnt from each other as we worked together. The completed image will be available to share after I have completed my PhD. Cora and I would like to thank the organisers for funding this project and giving us this opportunity and as this was a pilot project we hope that the same opportunity will be extended to others in the future.”
Sara Stride, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery & Corrianna Clarke, Community Artist.
For more information about the research or the use of Appreciative Inquiry, contact: Sara Stride: sstride@bournemouth.ac.uk

Reference:
- Hodgkiss, D., Quinney, S., Slack, T., Barnett, K., Howells, B. (2024a) Appreciating Health and Care: A practical Appreciative Inquiry resource for the Health and Social Care sector, Forres: Appreciating People; ISBN: 978-1-9160267-6-6
- Hodgkiss, D., Quinney, S., Slack, T., Barnett, K., Howells, B. (2024b) Appreciating Health and Care: AI in practice, Forres: Appreciating People.
- Arnold, R., Gordon, C., van Teijlingen, E., Way, S., Mahato, P. (2022). Why use Appreciative Inquiry? Lessons learned during COVID-19 in a UK maternity service. European Journal of Midwifery, 6 (May): 28. (Online – open access) (DOI): https://doi.org/10.18332/ejm/147444
BU PhD student attending HIV conference on scholarship
Congratulations to Tom Weeks, PhD student in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences at Bournemouth University, who has been awarded a scholarship from Gilead Sciences to attend the 2025 British HIV Association (BHIVA) Conference. His PhD research focuses on HIV stigma in the UK. Tom is supervised by Dr. Pramod Regmi (Principal Academic in International Health) and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen. The BHIVA conference features key sessions including:
- What’s happening in HIV in 2025: New guidelines, new data, and new plans
- Towards zero HIV transmission by 2030: Where are we now and where do we go next?
Tom is eager to engage with the latest developments in HIV care and contribute to the ongoing dialogue around stigma reduction and equitable access to treatment.
Well done!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen & Dr. Pramod Regmi
Early labour research accepted for ICM 2026 congress
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
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:
- 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)
- 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
New Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health (CMHW) paper on Nepal
Last week the international Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development emailed to tell that our paper ‘Exploring handwashing knowledge and practice among lactating mothers in Kathmandu’s slum communities’ [1] had been accepted for publication.
It is widely known that poor access to good quality water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) lead to high morbidity in young children. The paper reports on a cross-sectional study conducted with 127 breastfeeding mothers in two slum settlements in Nepal’s capital. It found that most had a good knowledge of WASH and appropriate washing of hands. However, the prevalence of illness among children whose mothers had only basic education was 26% higher than those whose mothers had completed secondary education. Family income and hand-washing practice were also significantly associated with child health (p < 0.01). Nearly three in four (73.2%) of children had experienced health issues, particularly diarrhoea, in the past half year.
The authors concluded that strengthening maternal hand-hygiene education programmes, particularly for lactating mothers, and improving WASH infrastructure are necessary, as well as promoting affordable hand-washing solutions in urban slums.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Reference:
- Devkota, G.P., Sharma, M.K., Sherpa, S., Khanal, T.R., Devkota, B., van Teijlingen, E. (2025) Exploring handwashing knowledge and practice among lactating mothers in Kathmandu’s slum communities, Nepal, Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 15:1-10. doi: 10.2166/washdev.2025.084
Bournemouth University psychologists publish new book
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:
- Mottram, C., Woodward, A. & Farrington, S. (2025). The Psychology of Stress London: Routledge.













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