Homelessness and pregnancy

This study will examine the impact of homelessness on women’s reproductive decision-making and experience of support. In so doing, it will address a gap in evidence regarding the effects that changes in levels of visibility to services, provision of support, and exposure to scrutiny from authorities vary before, during and after pregnancy. It will also improve understanding of the ways in which experience of homelessness influence women’s decisions regarding contraception and parenthood. 

Specifically, it will:

• Examine how homelessness influences women’s reproductive decision-making
• Explore how homelessness affects women’s experiences of support before, during and after pregnancy
• Identify what, if any, opportunities have been missed to support homeless women before, during and after pregnancy
• Develop a series of recommendations based on research findings

The study will focus in particular on the experiences of women affected by ‘multiple exclusion homelessness’, that is homelessness as well as one or more of the following: substance use (e.g. illicit drug use or problematic drinking), institutional care (e.g. prison or psychiatric ward), or involvement in street culture activities (e.g. begging, street drinking, or street-based sex work).

An exploratory qualitative approach will be used, involving in-depth interviews with women with lived experience of pregnancy while homeless as well as support providers representing a wide range of homelessness, health and social care services.

Funded by: David and Janet Kilmurry Trust

In partnership with: NHS Lothian