Two graduates from the MSc Public Health Nutrition programme at Edge Hill University are advancing the global conversation on maternal health after their research was accepted for publication in the African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health.
Alumni Chinwe Ajuchi and Ibukunoluwa Wahab have developed distinct lines of enquiry with a shared objective: addressing persistent challenges in maternal nutrition and its impact on healthcare outcomes. Their studies focus on a critical yet often overlooked issue: the quality of maternal nutrition education delivered by midwives and the impact this can have on the health of mothers and infants.
Research That Matters
Maternal and infant mortality remain a pressing public health issue in Nigeria, raising urgent questions about midwives' training and the associated quality of care pregnant women receive. "If midwives and student midwives are not receiving robust, evidence-based nutrition education, that gap shows directly through to the women and babies they care for," Ms Wahab explains. "That is the reality for many women in Nigeria."
Ms Ajuchi stresses that raising the quality of maternal nutrition provision plays a significant role in improving health outcomes for women and their children. With that in mind, both graduates set out to identify gaps in maternal nutrition education and explore the contributing factors. Their aim is to provide valuable, evidence-informed insights that could lead to visible and meaningful improvements in maternal health care.
Identifying the Gaps in Midwifery Education
Driven by her longstanding commitment to maternal and child health, Ms Wahab's research, "Maternal nutrition education among midwives and student midwives in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study", focuses on the midwives rather than pregnant women themselves. She asks, "How well are they being educated in maternal nutrition? Do they feel confident and equipped to advise the women in their care? Where is the system falling short?"
Her findings are striking. While the midwives and student midwives in question are deeply dedicated to supporting pregnant women, many lack the consistent, comprehensive training needed to provide evidence-based nutritional advice. Ms Wahab stresses that these gaps matter enormously. When midwives lack confidence in nutritional guidance, pregnant women are more vulnerable to poor nutritional outcomes with lasting consequences for both mother and child.
Encouraged by her dissertation supervisor, Dr Julie Abayomi, she submitted her research to the African Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, a decision she describes as both an opportunity and a responsibility. "I did not want this work to sit on a shelf," she reflects. "I wanted it to land somewhere it could matter." She now hopes her findings will help to drive tangible change, encouraging curriculum designers and decision makers in Nigeria and beyond to strengthen how nutrition education is embedded within midwifery programmes.
Understanding Practice on the Ground
While Ms Wahab's work focuses on education and training, fellow graduate Chinwe Ajuchi examines the practical delivery of nutrition guidance during routine antenatal appointments. Her research, "Discussing nutrition during antenatal care: a qualitative study of midwives' experiences in Nigeria", explores the day-to-day realities midwives face when delivering nutrition advice.
"Antenatal care constantly offers a vital platform for preventive action," Ms Ajuchi points out, "yet how nutrition is prioritised and operationalised within routine consultations is not well understood." By focusing on the lived experiences of midwives in Nigeria, Ms Ajuchi set out to illuminate systemic and resource-related factors that influence how effectively nutrition advice is given during antenatal appointments.
Although she approaches the issue from a different angle, her findings echo those of Ms Wahab. There is a significant gap between the recognised importance of maternal nutrition and how nutrition guidance is delivered in practice which can have potentially life-changing consequences for mothers and babies. Ms Ajuchi hopes her research will deepen understanding of these practical challenges, particularly in resource-constrained settings, and contribute to longer-term systemic improvements. Her ambition is to inform future research, policy discussions and interventions aimed at strengthening nutrition support during pregnancy.
Shared Insights, Shared Impact
Midwives play a crucial role in supporting women during pregnancy and the postnatal period. However, both studies highlight gaps between the acknowledged importance of nutrition and what is delivered in practice. Limited training, resource constraints and inconsistent education can undermine their ability to provide effective, evidence-based nutrition advice with potentially detrimental consequences. Together, both studies emphasise the need for evidence-based, context-specific education that empowers midwives to deliver the high-quality, individualised maternal nutrition guidance that expectant mothers deserve.
From Dissertation to Published Research
For both graduates, the acceptance of their work for publication was a moment of enormous validation and pride. What began as an MSc dissertation has now become part of a significant global conversation on maternal health in Nigeria and beyond. "I was delighted and deeply grateful when I received the acceptance," says Ms Ajuchi. "Publishing research that began as my MSc dissertation felt like a profound milestone and a rewarding conclusion to the work invested throughout the programme." She believes the experience has strengthened her commitment to research that supports healthcare professionals and contributes to better maternal and infant health outcomes.
For Ms Wahab, the publication also signals the start of her research journey. Inspired by her dissertation publication, she now plans to pursue a PhD focused on maternal and child health, health equity and culturally grounded interventions to improve health outcomes for underserved communities. "I want to go deeper, ask harder questions, and build a body of work that lasts," she explains. "This is only the beginning."
Looking Ahead
The experiences of Ms Ajuchi and Ms Wahab highlight what studying MSc Public Health Nutrition at Edge Hill can lead to. As they continue their academic journeys, they hope their research will inspire policy changes, improve midwifery training, and ultimately lead to better maternal and infant health outcomes in Nigeria and beyond.
