Many of the individuals we support at Amma face significant structural and healthcare inequalities. We seek to tackle these disparities through advocacy and research.
Experts by Experience Group
This group of individuals, comprised of individuals who were previously supported by Amma, plays a crucial role in shaping our advocacy and research priorities. Their insights and lived experiences inform strategic decisions, ensuring our initiatives are grounded in real-world perspectives and address the most pressing issues faced by our clients.
Research & Reports
We have contributed to reports by the Scottish Children and Young People’s Commissioner on the use of hotel accommodation for children and families, and an investigation into children’s rights violations occurring within a Home Office-run mother & baby unit in Glasgow.
We have also worked alongside Durham University’s Infancy & Sleep Centre to explore the challenges faced by new mothers in temporary asylum accommodation, and collaborated with the University of Edinburgh on a breastfeeding research project.
In March 2024, we released our ‘Birth Outcomes & Experiences Report‘, spotlighting the disparities in perinatal care experienced by our clients.
Policy Work
We are actively engaged in several projects with the aim of improving policies and systems that impact the pregnancy, birth, and parenting experiences of individuals from migrant backgrounds and other underserved groups. This includes collaboration with Public Health Scotland, Scottish Children and Young People’s Commissioner, and the Scottish Poverty & Inequality Commission.
When Aveen arrived in the UK, expecting her first child, she was seeking safety and a fresh start. After fleeing war in her home country, she found herself in Scotland unable to speak or read English. With no friends or family around to support, Aveen felt isolated, anxious, and afraid.
A study conducted by Amma Birth Companions has found instances of discrimination, high rates of intervention, and issues with interpretation and communication that contribute to disparities in perinatal care for women seeking asylum, refugees, and those with varied immigration statuses.
Yesterday, the government’s cruel and unworkable Illegal Migration Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. It will now go to the House of Lords for consideration, where it, if passed, will become law.
The impact of this Bill is truly horrifying. At Amma, we are deeply concerned about the impact it will have on all people seeking safety, but particularly on pregnant women and their children.
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