Study Links Children's Social Care Involvement to Increased Risk of Maternal Death During Perinatal Period in the UK
A recent study links involvement of children's social care services to increased risks of psychiatric causes, overdose, and maternal death during the perinatal period in the UK, highlighting urgent needs for care system reform.
Recent research published in BMJ Medicine reveals that involvement of children's social care services is a common characteristic in nearly one-third of maternal deaths occurring during or within a year after pregnancy in the UK between 2014 and 2022. The study highlights that these women faced heightened risks of dying from psychiatric causes, including suicide and drug overdose, as well as being victims of murder.
The study analyzed national surveillance data from the MBRRACE-UK project, encompassing 1,695 maternal deaths during this period. Of these, 1,451 cases were examined after excluding those with unknown social care involvement. Findings showed that 420 women, or 29%, had been involved with children’s social care services, with this figure rising from 2014 to reach 34% in 2019-2021.
Most of these women (75%) died between six weeks and twelve months postpartum. The data also indicated that women with social care involvement were more likely to die by suicide (20% vs. 10%), experience drug-related deaths (30% vs. 3%), and murder (5% vs. 2%) compared to women with no social care involvement. They were also younger, more likely to live in deprived areas, unemployed, living alone, and had higher rates of domestic abuse and pre-existing health issues including mental health problems and substance misuse.
Furthermore, women involved with social services received less antenatal care, with many beginning their care after 13 weeks of pregnancy, and faced multiple barriers hindering access to healthcare. Many exhibited complex social risk factors, including trauma, housing insecurity, and financial hardship, which complicated their engagement with health services.
The study emphasized that current multi-agency care systems often suffer from poor communication, disjointed processes, and inadequate coordination, leading to insufficient protection and support for vulnerable women and their babies. The authors stressed the urgent need for reforms in maternity care, focusing on risk assessment, medication management, care coordination, and staff training to ensure holistic, trauma-informed, and personalized support.
While the study does not establish cause-and-effect, its authors advocate for significant policy and practice changes to address the disparities and risks faced by this marginalized group. They call for comprehensive reviews of maternity pathways to better tailor care to women experiencing social adversity, ultimately aiming to reduce health inequalities and improve maternal outcomes.
Source: [https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-children-social-involvement-common-uk.html]
Stay Updated with Mia's Feed
Get the latest health & wellness insights delivered straight to your inbox.
Related Articles
Medicaid Expansion Associated with Increased Income for Low-Income Adults, Study Finds
Research shows that gaining Medicaid eligibility through the 2014 expansion resulted in a 9.6% increase in personal income among low-income adults, highlighting the economic benefits of expanded healthcare access.
New Guidelines for Clinical Homologous Recombination Deficiency Testing Published
The Association for Molecular Pathology has published new best practice guidelines for homologous recombination deficiency testing, aiming to standardize assays and enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Concerns Rise as Vaccine Experts Criticized by U.S. Health Leadership
Vaccine experts who were recently dismissed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services warn that recent leadership changes threaten decades of immunization progress and public health safety.
Researchers Use Fitbit Distribution to Collect Representative Health Data
Distributing wearable devices like Fitbits to diverse populations enhances the accuracy and equity of health data collection, paving the way for more inclusive health research and AI tools. Learn how probability sampling and device provision outperform traditional convenience sampling.