Research Group: Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health

Our long-term goal is to contribute to cutting-edge research and evidence-based practice that can both facilitate access to sexual, reproductive and perinatal health (SRPH), and ensure the rights of the individual in relation to SRPH.

Sexual, reproductive and perinatal health (SRPH) encompasses the entire life-cycle perspective on sexuality, procreation and the time before, during and after childbirth, as well as the rights of the individual.

In global terms, our goal is that all countries can provide their respective population with SRPH through the development and implementation of new knowledge and skills. We need to preserve and safeguard what we have achieved in SRPH research at both national and international levels, and then make use of the knowledge we acquire.

The Research Group

The Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health research group at Dalarna University (DU/SRPH) is based in the Swedish province of Dalarna. Its focus is the establishment of methods by which to improve reproductive health and the health of children and adolescents not least because SRPH is hugely significant within the context of public health and socio-economic development.

Our group is interdisciplinary. This results in research projects that incorporate a range of analytical methods and a wide collection of data.

Lack of Access to SRPH – a Major Challenge

According to WHO, nearly 300 000 women lose their lives every year as a result of pregnancy and childbirth-related factors. In addition, nearly 2 million newborns die each year from childbirth-related infection or complications. Many of these deaths could be avoided if there was access to professional midwifery care such as there is in Sweden.

UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SDG Target 3.1 Reduce Maternal Mortality under Global Goal 3 Good Health and Well-Being sets the target of reducing global maternal mortality to less than 70 per 100 000 live births. The SDG Target 3.2 End All Preventable Deaths Under 5 Years of Age sets the target of ending preventable deaths of newborns and reducing neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1 000 live births. To meet these targets, better access to SRPH is required, and this is where we focus our work and research.

In Sweden, it has long been important to ensure that all women have access to maternity and obstetric care, regardless of their individual circumstances. This is not always the case in the other countries where we work. Through our international commitment and involvement, we have gained insight into the importance of gender equality for both SRPH and the well-being, health and socioeconomic development of a population. We need also to ensure that within the context of Sweden, the rights of the individual and the quality SRPH care that is currently available here are maintained.

More Information about Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health (SRPH)

The midwife’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: protect and invest together – the Swedish example - PMC (nih.gov)

Ulrika Byrskog
Ulrika Byrskog
Associate Professor
uby@du.se
023-77 84 79
Kerstin Erlandsson
Kerstin Erlandsson
Professor Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health
ker@du.se
023-77 84 11
Christina Pedersen
Lecturer Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health
cpn@du.se
023-77 86 98
Marie Klingberg Allvin
Marie Klingberg Allvin
Professor Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health (Leave of Absence)
Elin Ternström
Elin Ternström
Senior Lecturer Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health
ete@du.se
023-77 88 02
Anneli Strömsöe
Anneli Strömsöe
Associate Professor Medical Sciences
ase@du.se
Ingela Wiklund
Senior Lecturer Nursing
iwi@du.se
023-77 88 32

Research Projects

Bridging the gaps between rhetoric and reality in midwifery education trough triangulation with alumni from Bangladesh, Somaliland, and Puntland
Start Date: 1 January 2023

Sustainability Beyond Capacity Building Programmes for midwives- A model including leadership-, mentorship- and cascade training of life-saving skill
Start Date: 1 January 2023

Capacitating East African Leaders- A collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Dalarna University
Start Date: 1 January 2023

Strengthening the integration of midwifery in health systems in South Asia: A leader-to-leader collaboration between Sweden, India and Nepal
Start Date: 1 January 2023

Accrediting midwifery education in Bangladesh
Start Date: 1 January 2023

  • Publications
Blomgren, Johanna et al. / Maternal health leaders' perceptions of barriers to midwife-led care in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, and Uganda / 2023 / Article in journal / diva2:1763940 / 2023-08-03
 
Assaysh-Öberg, Shereen; et al. / Women's experience of infertility & treatment - A silent grief and failed care and support / 2023 / Article in journal /diva2:1775589 / 2023-06-27 

Egal, Jama Ali; et al. / Facility-based maternal deaths: Their prevalence, causes and underlying circumstances. A mixed method study from the national referral hospital of Somaliland / 2023 / articke in journal / diva2:1763946 / 2023-06-08
 
Borneskog Sinclair, Catrin; et al. / Midwife Educators' perceptions of the efficacy of the Objective Structured clinical assessment of life-saving interventions - a qualitative interview study in Bangladesh / 2023 / Article in journal / diva2:1763522 / 2023-06-07 
 

Asaye, Mengstu Melkamu; et al. / Effect of fetal malposition, primiparous, and premature rupture of membrane on Neonatal Near miss mediated by grade three meconium-stained amniotic fluids and duration of the active first stage of labor : Mediation analysis / 2023 / Article in journal/ diva2:1756181 / 2023-05-05

Pappu, Noor Islam; et al. / The commitment to a midwifery centre care model in Bangladesh : An interview study with midwives, educators and students. / 2023 / Article in journal / diva2:1751313 / 2023-04-10

Bogren, Malin; et al. / Contextual factors influencing the implementation of midwifery-led care units in India / 2023 / Article in journal / diva2:1673111 / 2023-03-17

Mekonnen, Habtamu Sewunet; et al. / Being an Elderly Person Living in Metropolitan Cities of Northwestern Ethiopia : A Descriptive Phenomenological Study /2023 / Article in journal / diva2:1740272 / 2023-03-01

Ahrne, Malin; et al. / Group antenatal care compared with standard antenatal care for Somali-Swedish women: a historically controlled evaluation of the Hooyo Project / 2023 / Aricle in journal / diva2:1733219 / 2023-02-01 
 
Akselsson, Anna; et al. / Language-supported labor ward visits for pregnant migrant women: Staff experiences in a Swedish hospital / 2022 / Article in journal / diva2:1690033 / 2022-08-24
 
Elgemark, Karin; et al. / The 13.5-mg, 19.5-mg, and 52-mg Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine Systems and Risk of Ectopic Pregnancy / 2022 / Article in journal / diva2:1688061 / 2022-08-17
 
Akselsson, Anna; et al. / Midwives' communication with non-Swedish-speaking women giving birth: A survey from a multicultural setting in Sweden / 2022 / Article in journal / diva2:1682869 / 2022-07-12
 

Egal, Jama Ali; et al. / A lack of reproductive agency in facility-based births makes home births a first choice regardless of potential risks and medical needs : a qualitative study among multiparous women in Somaliland / 2022 / Article in journal / diva2:1656247 / 2022-04-07

Bogren, Malin; et al. / Aastrika Midwifery centre, a model for midwifery-led care in India / 2021 / Article in journal / diva2:1627234 / 2022-01-13

Ahmed, Caisha Arai et al. / Defibulated immigrant women's sexual and reproductive health from the perspective of midwives and gynaecologists as primary care providers in Sweden - A phenomenographic study/ 2021 / Article in journal / diva2:1583005 / 2021-08-04

Bogren, Malin; et al. /Facilitators of and barriers to providing high-quality midwifery education in South-East Asia: An integrative review / 2021 / Article in journal / diva2:1582834 / 2021-08-04

Ayala, Ana; et al. / Newborn infants who received skin-to-skin contact with fathers after Caesarean sections showed stable physiological patterns / 2021 / Article in journal / diva2:1516674 / 2021-01-12

Ekström, Annika; et al. / Health care provider's perspectives on the content and structure of a culturally tailored antenatal care programme to expectant parents and family members in Nepal / 2020 / Article in journal / diva2:1457060 / 2020-08-10

Bogren, Malin; et al. / Findings from a context specific accreditation assessment at 38 public midwifery education institutions in Bangladesh / 2021 / Article in journal / diva2:1456236 / 2020-08-03 

Bogren, Malin; et al. / Health workforce perspectives of barriers inhibiting the provision of quality care in Nepal and Somalia: A qualitative study / 2020 / Article in journal / diva2:1375950 / 2019-12-06

More research publications 

Collaboration in Sweden

We collaborate with researchers from:

Dalarana University

University of Gothenburg

Lund University

Karlstad University

Karolinska Institutet

Mid Sweden University

Sophiahemmet University

Uppsala University

Örebro University

Collaboration in the Nordic Region

Western Norway University of Applied Science

International Collaboration

We collaborate with researchers from:

CDPRB research center, Bangladesh

College of Nursing and Midwifery, The Gambia

Gondar University, Etiopien

Hargeisa University, Somaliland

MAMTA, India

MIDSON, Nepal

UNFPA, Bangladesh

University of Michigan, USA

University of Vancouver, Canada

More about our research

Video: Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health - A Human Right

More videos/Playlist 

Last reviewed:
Contact
Kerstin Erlandsson
Kerstin Erlandsson
Professor Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health
ker@du.se
023-77 84 11
Last reviewed: