Dr Amy Delicate BSc (Hons), PG Cert, Dip HE, PhD

Dr Amy Delicate

Department of Applied Health Sciences
Qualitative Research Fellow

Contact details

Email
a.r.delicate.1@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
Murray Learning Centre
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Amy is a Qualitative Research Fellow in the Department of Applied Health Sciences. Amy’s research is in the field of perinatal parental health, both physical and psychological, with focus on improving perinatal experiences and health outcomes.

Amy currently works on the Chapter Project, an NIHR Applied Health Programme Grant, which aims to optimise the postnatal care of women following childbirth related perineal trauma. Within this programme Amy has conducted the qualitative research across several work packages to support the development of a Wound Assessment Tool, Core Outcome Set, Patient Reported Outcomes and Care Pathway.

Amy has particular interest in addressing maternal health inequalities, reducing perinatal psychological trauma, and improving access to perinatal healthcare for diverse populations.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Health Services Research, City St George’s, University of London, 2022
  • DipHE in Antenatal Education, University of Bedfordshire, 2010
  • PGCert in Professional Practice in Higher Education Administration, Open University, 2008
  • BSc (Hons) in Production and Operations Management, University of Nottingham, 2000

Biography

Amy has a background in parent education and facilitated antenatal classes and provided postnatal parental support for over a decade. As a parent educator, Amy was passionate about supporting parents to have a positive experience of birth and an empowered start to parenting. This work led to her PhD studies at City St George’s, University of London.

Amy’s PhD used mixed methods to investigate the impact of birth trauma on the couple relationship and the related requirements for support. During her time at City St George’s as a student then a member of staff, Amy worked on research projects looking at assessment and treatment of perinatal anxiety and associated disorders.

Teaching

  • Medicine and Surgery MBChB – Evidence Based Medicine Module

Research

Research Topic Interests

Maternal health; paternal health; perinatal parental health; perinatal mental health; parent education; maternal health inequalities; diverse maternal population

Research Method Interests

Qualitative methods; patient and public involvement; co-producing research with affected groups; care pathway mapping

Other activities

  • Proud to be an LGBTQ+ ally at the University of Birmingham
  • Committee Member of the College of Medicine and Health Postgraduate Taught Research Ethics Committee (March 2025 – present)
  • Member of Maternity Stream Research Network (December 2024 – present)

Publications

Blackburn, A., Jones, L., Morton, V. H., Morris, R. K., Yates, D., & Delicate, A. (2025). Exploring women’s, birth partners’ and healthcare professionals’ views and experiences of childbirth related perineal trauma care provision in high income countries: A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis. Women and Birth, 38(3), 101907.

Jones, L., Delicate, A., Waigwa, S., Morton, V. H., Morris, R. K., Whitehurst, J., & Hillman, S. (2025). Exploring views and experiences of childbirth-related perineal trauma: a qualitative study protocol for developing a wound management tool and care pathway. BMJ Open, 15(4), e088248.

Meades, R., Moran, P., Hutton, U., Khan, R., Maxwell, M., Cheyne, H., Delicate, A., … Ayers, S., and the MAP ALLIANCE Study Team. (2024). Acceptability of identification and management of perinatal anxiety: a qualitative interview study with postnatal women. Frontiers in Public Health. 12. 1466150.

Meades, R., Sinesi, A., Williams, L. R., Delicate, A., … Ayers, S., and the MAP Study Team. (2024). Evaluation of perinatal anxiety assessment measures: a cognitive interview study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 507.

Yuill, C., Sinesi, A., Meades, R., Williams., L., Delicate, A., … Ayers, S., and the MAP Study Team. (2024). Women’s experiences and views of routine assessment for anxiety in pregnancy and after birth: a qualitative study. British Journal of Health Psychology.

Benyamini, Y., Delicate, A., Ayers, S., … Limmer, C.M. (2024). Key dimensions of women’s and their partners’ experiences of childbirth: a systematic review of reviews of qualitative studies. PLOS ONE. 19(3), e0299151.

Delicate, A., & Ayers, S. (2023). The impact of birth trauma on the couple relationship and related support requirements; a framework analysis of parents’ perspectives. Midwifery. 123, 109732.

Delicate, A., Ayers, S., & McMullen, S. (2020). Health care practitioners’ views of the support women, partners, and the couple relationship require for birth trauma: current practice and potential improvements. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 21, 1-10.

Delicate, A., Ayers, S., & McMullen, S. (2020). Healthcare practitioners’ assessment and observations of birth trauma in mothers and partners. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 1-13.

Delicate, A., Ayers, S., & McMullen, S. (2018). A systematic review and meta-synthesis of the impact of becoming parents on the couple relationship. Midwifery, 61, 88-96.

Delicate, A., Ayers, S., Easter, A., & McMullen, S. (2018). The impact of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress on a couple’s relationship: a systematic review and meta-synthesis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 36(1), 102-115.

View all publications in research portal