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Accessibility & LanguageMedicine and Motherhood Study
In the context of the ongoing feminisation of the medical workforce, the Medicine and Motherhood (MAM) project seeks to initiate a national conversation on fertility and family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood among women doctors and its relationship to doctor wellbeing, recruitment and retention, and health system functioning.
Research internationally suggests that pregnancy among doctors may be associated with a variety of challenges including delayed childbearing, increased use of assisted reproductive technology, higher rates of pregnancy complications and loss, discrimination against, and stigmatisation of, pregnancy, and slowed career progression. However, much of the existing research originates from North America and differences in culture, working conditions, maternity care, and other factors, limit the generalisability of this research to the Irish context.
The MAM project will draw upon existing literature and engagement with women doctors working in the Republic of Ireland to elucidate experiences of family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood balanced alongside active clinical practice and patient care among women doctors in ROI. MAM project data will also support a multispecialty panel of physicians and subject matter experts to develop recommendations for optimal training and working environments for Irish doctors to ensure they can realise both family and career aspirations.
What is planned:
This research will be conducted as four work packages:
- A scoping review of research on pregnancy and motherhood among European and UK doctors (ongoing).
- A survey of Irish female doctors that will consider fertility and family planning, experiences of pregnancy and childbearing, perceived impacts of pregnancy and childbearing on work and careers, and the relationship of these variables with wellbeing, career satisfaction, and work-life balance (ongoing).
- Interviews with women doctors working in Ireland on perceived barriers and facilitators to pregnancy and motherhood (Summer 2025).
- A national, multispecialty panel that will convene and consider the data collected and offer recommendations on changes required to support an optimal working and training environment (Summer 2026).
Project Team:
Ms Sanjana Biju, University of Galway
Dr Sinéad Lydon, University of Galway
Dr Caoimhe Madden, University of Galway
Prof. Paul O'Connor, University of Galway
Prof. Keelin O'Donoghue, University College Cork
Dr Niamh Humphries, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, Women in Medicine in Ireland Network
Dr Grant Jeffrey, Health Service Executive Workplace Health and Wellbeing Unit
Dr Jennifer Finnegan, Rotunda Hospital
Funder:
This work is supported by The MPS Foundation Grant Programme.
The MPS Foundation was established to undertake research, analysis, education and training to enable healthcare professionals to provide better care for their patients and improve their own wellbeing. To achieve this, it supports and funds research across the world that will make a difference and can be applied in the workplace.
More information:
If you wish to take part in any of the above studies, or have any questions related to the MAM project, please contact Sanjana Biju (sanjana.biju@universityofgalway.ie) or Dr Sinéad Lydon (sinead.lydon@universityofgalway.ie) for further information.
