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WOVAN study

Women's views on antibiotics at caesarean section (WOVAN).

A study to explore women’s views on receiving antibiotics at caesarean section.

The WOVAN research group are a group of researchers working within women’s health interested in preventing infection after caesarean section and improving the delivery of maternity care.

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 conducted telephone/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.

Key researchers

  • Dr Amie Wilson

    Research Fellow in Global Maternal Health

    Staff profile page for Dr Amie Wilson, a Research Fellow in Global Maternal Health and Midwife at the University of Birmingham.

Project description

We invited women who 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 conducted telephone and 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.

Ethical approval

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).

Meet the team

PI(s):

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

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 the prevention of preterm birth and improving maternity care through the prevention of infection.

Students:

  • Dr Nicole Pilarski (PGR)
  • Isy Jones (Medical Student)

Publications

  • 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.

Social media links

Find us on Twitter: @wovanstudy

On Instagram: wovanmaternityresearch

On Facebook: wovanmaternityresearch

Contact us

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