Engaging Czech-Slovak Roma women in the co-creation of an antenatal care information resource

BACKGROUND: Czech-Slovak Roma women in the UK suffer barriers to antenatal care such as stigma contributing to reduced engagement with health services. There is a scarcity of research and intervention studies with this population. This study aims to co-create an antenatal care community information resource with a group of these women through participatory research. Women's stories of their pregnancy journeys would be able to provide an understanding of their maternity needs, to inform design considerations for a prototype of an antenatal care information resource. OBJECTIVES: 1. To understand Roma women's needs in pregnancy, childbirth, and maternity services through storytelling 2. To share with women publicly available antenatal information resources such as pregnancy apps 3. To co-create a low-resolution paper prototype of an antenatal care information resource that meets their needs RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: 1. Six two-hour workshops with 6-8 women supported by a peer researcher and an interpreter. 2. Two workshops focused on the co-creation of an antenatal information resource. 3. Design-based participatory methods and thematic analysis, culminating in a community event and webinar for public and professional stakeholders. FINDINGS: The women's pregnancy journeys covered several topics such as unplanned pregnancies, nausea and vomiting, pregnancy loss and birth trauma. Through all these, the main message they wished to convey was the need for women in the community to overcome the stigma of seeking help for their mental health. Our information resource developed using a co-creative participatory approach, signposts Roma women to reliable information and healthcare provision potentially reducing poor maternal and perinatal health outcomes. This study could be replicated in other marginalized newly arrived groups of migrant women to facilitate timely uptake of antenatal and mental health support services. KEY MESSAGES: • Czech-Slovak Roma women face stigma in seeking help for their mental health during pregnancy. • Roma women can be supported to overcome stigma through design-based participatory research.