The Maternal and Child Health Research Centre (MCHRC) undertakes a range of high quality research and stakeholder engagement activities in relation to the health and care of mothers, babies, and young children, with a focus on reducing inequalities in maternity care access, experiences and health outcomes. Our interdisciplinary applied research draws on various methodological approaches to provide evidence to inform maternal, infant, and child health care policy and practice locally, nationally, and internationally for developing services and interventions for those who are disadvantaged.

Our research has spanned across countries (UK, India, Nigeria, Taiwan) and vulnerable population groups including migrant and ethnic minority mothers; babies born preterm and/ or with low birth weight; socio-economically disadvantaged mothers in low and middle income countries; mothers and children at risk of malnutrition, obesity or overweight; and mothers with specific physical or psychological impairments or disabilities.

The Centre includes a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in public health, nursing, midwifery, psychology, sociology and allied health sciences. Our methodological expertise encompasses systematic reviews and all forms evidence synthesis; qualitative, quantitative and mixed method primary studies; participatory research and stakeholder engagement activities; secondary data analysis; and development, implementation and evaluation of interventions.

The Centre has a number of doctoral students who work on projects focused on improving maternity care policy and practice in the UK or internationally.

Our work is funded by a range of national and international organisations and we have on-going collaborations with several academic as well as non-academic partners both in the UK and overseas.