WOVAN study

We are inviting women who have a had a recent caesarean section to take part in a research interview regarding their views and experiences. Almost one in three pregnant women have a caesarean section. Most women recover quickly and without complications, however, some women develop an infection in the womb, in the scar on the skin or in the blood stream.

Developing an infection makes recovery following a caesarean section more difficult and complicated. We are conducting telephone or video call interviews to help us understand more about women’s experiences with infection after caesarean and their views on using antibiotics to prevent infection.

We are looking for women who have had a Caesarean Section in the last 2 years to share their experiences.

For further information about the study download the patient information sheet:

Accessible PDF version 153kb

Accessible Word version 99Kb docx.

To register your interest to participate please download the form, you will be asked to answer a few short questions -

The WOVAN study was approved by the University of Birmingham Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Ethical Review Committee on the 10th of September 2021 (ERN_21-0811).

PI(s): 

Professor Katie Morris

Katie’s research aims to improve the care for women with multiple pregnancies, fetal anomalies, growth restriction, reducing infection in maternity and prevention of preterm birth, employing prognostic and diagnostic research, modelling, systematic reviews and trials

Dr Laura Jones

Laura is an experienced applied health researcher and her research focusses on undertaking qualitative and mixed-methods research to answer challenging questions around women’s and maternal health and within maternity care.

Dr Victoria Hodgetts-Morton

Vicky is a NIHR clinical lecturer and senior trainee in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Vicky has experience in randomised trials in obstetrics (C-STICH, C-STICH2, PREPS) and is interested in prevention of preterm birth and improving maternity care through prevention of infection.

Students:

Dr Nicole Pilarski (PGR)

Isy Jones (Medical Student)

• Hodgetts Morton, V., Wilson, A., Hewitt, C. et al. Chlorhexidine vaginal preparation versus standard treatment at caesarean section to reduce endometritis and prevent sepsis—a feasibility study protocol (the PREPS trial). Pilot Feasibility Stud 4, 84 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-018-0273-9
• Hodgetts-Morton V, Hewitt CA, Wilson A, Farmer N, Weckesser A, Dixon E, Brocklehurst P, Hardy P, Morris RK. Vaginal preparation with chlorhexidine at cesarean section to reduce endometritis and prevent sepsis: A randomized pilot trial (PREPS). Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2020 Feb;99(2):231-239. doi: 10.1111/aogs.13737. Epub 2019 Oct 8. PMID: 31539171.
• Weckesser A, Farmer N, Dam R, Wilson A, Morton VH, Morris RK. Women's perspectives on caesarean section recovery, infection and the PREPS trial: a qualitative pilot study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019 Jul 15;19(1):245. doi: 10.1186/s12884-019-2402-8. PMID: 31307417; PMCID: PMC6631540.
• Farmer N, Hodgetts-Morton V, Morris RK. Are prophylactic adjunctive macrolides efficacious against caesarean section surgical site infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020 Jan;244:163-171. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.11.026. Epub 2019 Nov 22. PMID: 31810022.
• Bell C, Hughes L, Akister T, Ramkhelawon V, Wilson A, Lissauer D. What is the result of vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine during labour on maternal and neonatal infections? A systematic review of randomised trials with meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018 May 8;18(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s12884-018-1754-9. PMID: 29739349; PMCID: PMC5941653.

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Via email: wovanstudy@contacts.bham.ac.uk