The Access and Organisation of Maternity Care research group investigates how women and families access maternity care and how maternity care services can be organised to meet their needs. We pay particular attention to women in vulnerable situations, health inequalities and maternal health after childbirth.
A second area of research focuses on the wellbeing and sustainable employability of midwives. Midwives play a central role in Dutch maternity care, yet workforce pressures, professional transitions and work-related challenges may affect both professional wellbeing and quality of care. Our research therefore examines the working lives of student midwives, newly qualified midwives and experienced professionals throughout their careers.
Through close collaboration with women, families, healthcare professionals, educational institutions and policymakers, we translate research into practice and contribute to improvements in maternity care, professional education and health policy.
By bringing together research, education and clinical practice, we foster a learning environment in which new knowledge can be developed, shared and applied to improve maternity care for future generations.
Our research is dedicated to advancing equitable maternity care, supporting maternal health after childbirth, and fostering a sustainable midwifery workforce. By collaborating closely with practice and policy partners, we translate these insights into meaningful, real-world improvements across the healthcare system.
Access to maternity care is a central theme in our research. We investigate how healthcare services can better meet the needs of women and families, particularly those in vulnerable situations. Guided by conceptual frameworks on access to care, we study barriers and facilitators at the level of women, healthcare professionals and healthcare systems.
Our work includes research on social maternity care, culturally appropriate care, support for migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women, and initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities during pregnancy and childbirth. We work closely with regional and national partners to ensure that research findings contribute to meaningful improvements in care.
Our work on access to care spans the entire maternity care continuum, including the postpartum period. We investigate women's health, recovery experiences and healthcare needs after childbirth, as well as their use of healthcare services during the first year postpartum. Through this work, we aim to identify opportunities to improve postpartum support and continuity of care.
Many women experience health problems during the first year after childbirth. These problems may affect physical, emotional and social wellbeing, yet they are often insufficiently recognised within healthcare systems. As part of our research on access to care, we study women's experiences, healthcare needs and healthcare use after childbirth to improve postpartum support and recovery.
A sustainable maternity care system depends on a healthy and engaged workforce. Our research focuses on occupational wellbeing, job satisfaction, professional identity and workforce retention among midwives. We study the entire professional journey, from student midwives and newly qualified professionals to experienced practitioners.
By identifying factors that promote wellbeing and sustainable employability, we aim to strengthen the profession and safeguard the quality and continuity of maternity care in the future.
Research has the greatest impact when it improves daily practice. We therefore work closely with healthcare professionals, educational institutions, policymakers and maternity care organisations. Our findings contribute to professional education, implementation programmes, policy development and innovations in maternity care.
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
Department of Primary and Long-term Care
Midwifery Science Northern-Netherlands
Internal postcode FA21
P.O. Box 196
9700 AD Groningen
UMCG
Department of Primary and Long-term Care
Oostersingel | entrance 47 | building 50 | 2nd floor
Groningen
The Netherlands
