Does training affect understanding of implicit bias and care of black, Asian and minority ethnic babies?

Abstract

Background: In the UK, there are huge inequities in maternal and neonatal mortality, yet there appears to be very little training to address this for midwives. This quality improvement project aimed to address this by providing training on implicit bias, stereotyping and clinical assessment of babies from black, Asian and minority ethnic families. Methods: A training package was created and delivered to 67 midwives and students on placement at the Yeovil District NHS Foundation Trust on implicit bias, structural racism and clinical assessment of babies from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. Pre- and post-training surveys were completed and descriptive statistical analysis alongside thematic analysis was used to analyse the findings. Results: It was evident that midwives benefited from the training, as pre-session surveys noted that many midwives were unaware of the factors influencing the care of women and babies from black, Asian and minority ethnic families. After the training, they identified a wish to change their practice to be more inclusive. Conclusions: The training package was well evaluated; however, more training and research is needed to improve the safety of mothers and babies from black, Asian and minority ethnic families.