RELEVANT
What is the project about?
RELEVANT: REducing stiLlbirth through bEhaViour chAnge iNtervenTions
In high-income countries, the majority of stillbirths occur prior to labour and are associated with placental pathology. However, previous research has shown that stillbirth is associated with a wide range of risk factors, including maternal behavioural risk factors. These including sleep position, smoking, alcohol intake, illicit drug use, high maternal weight and inadequate antenatal care attendance. Considering that some of the mentioned maternal behavioural risk factors have the potential to be modified, there has been an increase in development and implementation of antenatal behavioural interventions targeting those behaviours to reduce the risk of stillbirth.
The RELEVANT Study is a doctoral research project funded by Science Foundation Ireland. The overall aim of this PhD is to build the evidence-based to inform the development of a behaviour change intervention to raise awareness of and reduce modifiable risk factors for stillbirth in Ireland.
What is involved?
- Literature review to examine the available evidence in relation to modifiable risk factors for stillbirth
- An evaluation of the content of 92 websites targeted at the pregnant population in relation to stillbirth and risk factors for stillbirth
- Qualitative evidence syntheses of facilitators and barriers to changing target behaviours (substance use, attendance at antenatal care, weight management)
- Qualitative study exploring first time mum’s experiences and knowledge about behavioural risk factors for stillbirth.
- A systematic review of behaviour change techniques used in the context of stillbirth prevention interventions in high-income countries
- Survey study exploring healthcare professionals’ experiences when communicating with pregnant women about stillbirth to better understand perceived barriers towards addressing these issues in practice.
Who is involved?
Project team
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Tamara Escañuela Sánchez | Pregnancy Loss Research Group; National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, UCC | PhD Candidate |
| Professor Keelin O'Donoghue | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Primary Supervisor |
| School of Public Health, UCC | Co-supervisor | |
| Dr Sarah Meaney | National Perintal Epidemiology Centre, UCC | Co-supervisor |
| Professor Molly Byrne | Health Behaviour Change Reserach Group, School of Psychology, University of Galway | Co-supervisor |
| Dr Laura Linehan | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Collaborator |
| Caroline O'Connor | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Collaborator |
| Dr Emily Rutherford | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Collaborator |
Dissemination activities
Journal articles
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Meaney S, O'Donoghue K. Modifiable risk factors for stillbirth: a literature review. Midwifery. 2019;79:102539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2019.102539.
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Meaney S, O’Donoghue K. Stillbirth and risk factors: an evaluation of Irish and UK websites. Journal of Communication in Healthcare. 2021;14(1):68-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538068.2020.1807887.
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Linehan L, O’Donoghue K, Byrne M, Meaney S. Facilitators and barriers to seeking and engaging with antenatal care in high-income countries: A meta-synthesis of qualitative research. Health & Social Care in the Community. 2022;1-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14072.
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Matvienko-Sikar K, Meaney S, O'Donoghue K. Exploring first-time mothers' experiences and knowledge about behavioural risk factors for stillbirth. Health Expectations. 2022;1-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13662.
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Matvienko-Sikar K, Linehan L, O’Donoghue K, Byrne M, Meaney S. Facilitators and barriers to substance-free pregnancies in high-income countries: A meta-synthesis of qualitative research. Women and Birth. 2022;35(2):e99-e110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2021.04.010.
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Byrne M, Meaney S, O'Donoghue K, Matvienko-Sikar K. A protocol for a systematic review of behaviour change techniques used in the context of stillbirth prevention [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]. HRB Open Research. 2022;4:92. https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13375.2.
- Escañuela Sánchez T, Meaney S, O’Connor C, Linehan L, O'Donoghue K, Byrne M, Matvienko-Sikar K. Facilitators and barriers influencing weight management behaviours during pregnancy: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:682. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04929-z.
Policy brief
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group. The RELEVANT study: Rethinking stillbirth through behaviour change. PLRG Policy Brief 9. October 2022.
Project status
Ongoing: October 2018 to December 2022
Further information
Please email Tamara Escañuela Sánchez: tamara.escanuelasanchez@ucc.ie