Exploring cultural sensitivity within an antenatal care intervention to optimise weight, dietary and lifestyle behaviours

Women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and/or migrant backgrounds are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with their Australian born counterparts. Contributory factors are complex, however are influenced by factors including health system inability to accommodate cultural practices, beliefs and observations that are highly valued by women during pregnancy. Additional considerations include barriers related to language, trust and accessibility. This project will explore participation in a healthy lifestyle intervention through an equity lens, analysing the acceptability, receptivity and cultural appropriateness of a lifestyle intervention during pregnancy in women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds using mixed-methods evaluation approaches. You should ideally have a background in health broadly with an interest in women’s health, particularly pregnancy care, health service delivery and implementation research. Your research will be part of a large collaborative project between Monash University and Monash Health. You will work closely with team members from multiple departments of these organisations and work within the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI). MCHRI is a division of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and is located within the Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) – an innovative environment directly integrated with Monash Health – Victoria’s largest healthcare service, providing access to clinical research opportunities.