loading page

Implementation of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy in routine antenatal care in London: a mixed-methods evaluation
  • +4
  • Jennifer Hall,
  • Catherine Stewart,
  • Bryony Stoneman,
  • Tamsin Bicknell,
  • Helen Duncan,
  • Judith Stephenson,
  • Geraldine Barrett
Jennifer Hall
University College London Institute for Women's Health

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Catherine Stewart
University College London Institute for Women's Health
Author Profile
Bryony Stoneman
University College Hospital Women's Health Service
Author Profile
Tamsin Bicknell
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Author Profile
Helen Duncan
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Author Profile
Judith Stephenson
University College London Institute for Women's Health
Author Profile
Geraldine Barrett
University College London Institute for Women's Health
Author Profile

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the implementation of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP) in antenatal care. Design: Mixed methods evaluation of a pilot. Setting: Antenatal care at University College London Hospital and Homerton Hospital, England, 2019-2022. Population: Pregnant women attending antenatal care at one of the sites during the evaluation. Methods: Quantitative and psychometric analysis of anonymous data and qualitative analysis of interviews and focus groups with women and midwives, using a Framework Analysis. Main Outcome Measures: Acceptability of the inclusion of the LMUP, measured by completion rates and women’s and midwives opinions. Results: Completion of the LMUP at UCLH stabilised at around 70% and the LMUP performed as expected. Asking the LMUP at antenatal booking appointments is feasible and acceptable to women and midwives. Advantages of asking the LMUP, highlighted by participants, include providing additional support and personalising care. Midwives’ concerns about judgment were unsubstantiated; women with unplanned pregnancies valued such discussions. Conclusions: These findings support the implementation of the LMUP in routine antenatal care and show how it can provide valuable insights into the circumstances of women’s pregnancies. This can be used to help midwives personalise care, and potentially reduce adverse outcomes and subsequent unplanned pregnancy. Integration of the LMUP into the Maternity Services Data Set, will establish national data collection for a population-level measure of unplanned pregnancy, serving as a key outcome measure for sexual and reproductive health and enabling analysis of the prevalence, factors, and implications of unplanned pregnancies across subpopulations to inform implementation. Funding : NIHR PDF-2017-10-021