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Esther Sharma

King's College London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of Bedfordshire

Research areas: Medicine · Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health · Migration, Health and Trauma · Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare · Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions

ORCID iD 0000-0001-6828-7501
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About

I hold a position as a Research Associate in the Methodologies Research Division at King's College London. As a midwife, researcher, and activist, my research lies at the intersection of maternity and marginalisation, using qualitative and creative research methods.

I am currently working on a major NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research study to explore and enhance the implementation and impact of the Core Competency Framework in England as it seeks to reduce variation in maternity and neonatal care. I also sit on the advisory committe for the INTERGEN study that focuses on maternal health and wellbeing in contexts of forced migration across borders in three countries. My PhD explored the perinatal experiences of Afghan refugee women during their migratory journeys through Serbia to reach EU member states, findings of which have been globally disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at international conferences, and the development of a webcomic shared through social media. I give guest lectures on a range of topics, from intersectional approaches to maternal health, social determinants of health, and ethics in health research. I co-supervise a doctoral student who is undertaking UK policy research in planning for infant feeding in emergencies. I am an active member of the British Academy Early Career Research Network and City of Sanctuary Maternity Stream Research Network.

I previously worked in a wide range of clinical maternity settings in addition to broader maternity-related public health roles in the NHS and charitable sectors. I volunteer for Birth Companions, a charity supporting women facing socially complex circumstances.

Employment

Education

Projects & Funding

  • Birthing at European Union Borders: A qualitative multi-method study of perinatal Afghan women’s experiences on the move through Serbia Parkes Foundation

Publications (18)