Category: News

We celebrate the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women worldwide. From breaking barriers to driving change, women continue to powerfully shape our societies, industries, and communities. IWD reminds us that true gender equality must include all women—across all ethnicities, backgrounds, and identities. When we uplift and empower women from every community, we create a more…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that World Health Day 2025, observed on April 7th, will focus on maternal and newborn health under the theme Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures. Link here. This campaign comes at a crucial time, as setbacks in humanitarian aid threaten millions of lives, highlighting the need for renewed investment in…

Sheffield Hallam University and partners have been awarded funding to tackle inequalities in maternal healthcare as part of the NIHR Challenge Call: Maternity Disparities Consortium. Professor Hora Soltani from Sheffield Hallam’s School of Health and Social Care will lead the partnership with South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub (SYDHH), City of Doncaster Council and Bournemouth University as…

NIHR Maternity challenge collaboration announced. Nine UK universities have joined the NIHR Challenge Maternity Disparities Consortium to tackle inequalities in maternity care. The research will address disparities before, during, and after pregnancy while also building capacity to improve services and support healthcare professionals over time. Follow the link for NIHRs statement.

Today and yesterday (January 7th-8th) academics involved in MIHERC (Maternal and Infant Health Equity Research Centre), the successful interdisciplinary collaboration to address challenges in maternity care, met in Bournemouth. Further information.

Special Session: AI for Maternity and Women’s Health This special session explores how AI can transform maternity and women’s healthcare, addressing social, physical, and medical challenges. AI-driven solutions can improve diagnosis, treatment, and personalised care, helping to reduce health disparities and optimise clinical decision-making. Bringing together researchers, clinicians, and industry experts, the session will discuss…

On the 12th and 13th November members of the NIHR maternity challenge consortium travelled to Sheffield to share previous research and background. Presentations were as follows: Research priorities from the perspectives of women/ families from marginalised backgrounds. This Mum Moves   Amy Furness & Hora Soltani Intergenerational differences in lifestyle and pregnancy outcomes within diverse communities.…