Martha Vazquez Corona

Martha 2023

Thesis title

Migrant mums and maternity care: A participatory research study

Description of PhD project

Australia is an increasingly diverse country, where around 36% of women giving birth were born overseas. Migrant and refugee women living in Australia face socioeconomic, language, and transport barriers to access to maternity care services, resulting in worse maternal health outcomes compared to Australian-born women. Culturally responsive, woman-centred maternity care can be a feasible, cost-effective strategy to improve health equity, access to services, and health outcomes of women. This research aims to provide actionable-community based evidence through qualitative participatory research methods to inform the improvement of maternity care services in Melbourne for migrant and refugee women.

Supervisors

  • Associate Professor Meghan Bohren
  • Dr Karen Block

Biography

Martha is a Master of Public Health and graduate researcher. She has professional background in clinical nutrition, disability, health promotion, and the advancement of human rights in Mexico.  She is currently a PhD candidate in addition to working as a research assistant at the Gender and Women’s health Unit. The focus of her research is global maternal health, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Funding/scholarships

  • Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship
  • Melbourne Human Rights Scholarship