Faculty affiliate wins International Fellowship Award for research into women's reproductive health

Lucy November, an affiliate of the Division of Women’s Health has been awarded an International Fellowship Award for research into contributing factors that put younger woman in Sierra Leone at risk of maternal mortality.

Lucy November, an affiliate of the Division of Women’s Health has been awarded one of two International Fellowship Awards funded by Wellbeing of Women. The award aims to enable midwives to develop research interests in maternity services, pregnancy, childbirth and women’s health from an international perspective.

Ms November is an experienced clinical midwife with a Masters in Public Health who will be affiliated with Maternal Health Policy, Systems and Implementation Research Group and working with Global Health on her research project.

Her research will explore the contributing factors to high maternal mortality in adolescents in Eastern Freetown in Sierra Leone. Ms November has worked with an international NGO in Freetown and has developed networks that will help with her research.

“Sierra Leone has the highest maternal mortality ratio in the world and this is increased in young women under 20 and is an even higher risk for teenage girls,” says Ms November.

“Through focus groups and interviews with pregnant girls and adolescent mothers, families of girls who have not survived and midwives, teachers and women’s leaders, I will be able to better understand the factors which put younger women at greater risk. 

“The aim is to develop strategies for these young women to help reduce those risks.”

Professor Jane Sandall within the Division of Women’s Health will be supervising Ms November’s work and couldn’t be happier about the opportunity.

Commenting on the win, she said: “I am delighted that she has been given an opportunity by Wellbeing of Women to do this important work in in Sierra Leone. Colleagues across the Division and myself are looking forward to working with Lucy on her project.”

Only two Fellowships are awarded each year. The award is funded by Wellbeing of Women the charity that funds pioneering research into women’s reproductive health and is a result of the on-going partnership between Wellbeing of Women, the Royal College of Midwives and the Burdett Trust for Nursing.