The Call for Abstracts is now open for the 10th Normal Labour & Birth Research Conference
‘Normal birth; into the future’
This 10th conference in the international series is an important global event, which is a UCLan initiative, led by Soo Downe from the Research in Childbirth and Health Unit (ReaCH), School of Health at UCLan.
The conference has been running since 2002 and held outside the UK in Canada in 2010 http://midwifery.ubc.ca/research/research-activities/normal-labour-birth-research-conference/, China in 2012 and Brazil in 2014 http://normalbirthbrasil.com/ . In 2015 the conference returns to it’s UK home at Grange Over Sands in the English Lake District.
Background
This is the tenth international conference in a series that is designed to disseminate research, theory, art, drama, policy and practice relating to physiological childbirth. The conference will address social, cultural, physiological, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of labour and birth. It will examine new developments in the current evidence base on the nature of and cultures around birth, and on associated processes and outcomes of labour and birth. Papers will cover primary and secondary research, methodological debates, and new philosophies and constructs in this area. We are interested in submissions in any of the following areas:
- Studies that integrate knowledge from a range of scientific approaches and/or perspectives
- Basic science studies of the physiology, biochemistry, psychology, and sociology of normal labour and birth
- Studies of and contributions to practice and/or service organisation
- Studies of collaboration to improve maternal, infant, family, and maternity staff wellbeing
- Examinations of building design and of the physical and psychosocial environment of birth
- The identification and examination of relevant outcomes relating to labour and birth
- Social and cultural precursors and consequences of optimal childbirth
- Emotional and spiritual aspects of labour and birthing
- Educational aspects
- Economic analyses
- Philosophical and theoretical critiques and debates
- Methodological innovations in this and associated areas
- Drama, virtual reality, and other multi-media and e-technology approaches
Keynote Speakers:
• Dr Jim Zhang (research on physiological length of labour)
• Professor Mary Renfrew (overview of and update of most recent activities around the Lancet Series on Midwifery)
• Professor Peter Brocklehurst (new innovations in the epidemiology and consequences of intrapartum events: the UK Life study)
• Professor Lisa Kane Lowe (Implementation science and change towards physiological labour and birth)
Conference Aims
The conference will provide the opportunity to develop and disseminate evidence in the area of normal labour and birth, to enhance clinical practice, education, management, supervision, service delivery, and policy, and to further research collaboration.
Objectives
- To disseminate ongoing and complete research
- To provide the opportunity for collaboration and debate
- To discuss an agenda for the future in the area of normal labour and birth
Participants
This conference will be of interest to:
- academics and researchers working in the area of maternity services, birth and women’s health
- those providing maternity care (professional, lay, state-funded, independent, midwifery, medical, nursing, and other groups)
- policy makers with an interest in maternity services
- clinical leaders, managers, and heads of service
- service users
- lecturers at all levels in maternity care
- managers of maternity care education
Social Programme
This programme is separately bookable in advance. Details will be circulated but will include a conference dinner and a boat trip.
Submission of an Abstract
An abstract of the intended presentation should be submitted to the e-submission system, which is available here http://uclanmidwifery.co.uk/abstracts/submit_abstract.php
The closing date for receipt of abstracts is 16th January 2015
If you do not have access to the electronic system, please contact Liz Roberts through any of the contact points given below, for advice on how to submit manually or by email.
Presentations can take the form of an oral paper, poster, workshop or symposium. Papers will be between 20 and 30 minutes long. A workshop will have a longer time allocation, but should be interactive and no more than 25% of the content should be presentational. A symposium will also have a longer allocation, but it should include at least two distinct oral papers on a similar subject.
There are four categories of submissions. Please structure them as follows:
- Original research (that will be complete by June 2015)
‘Group 1’ and title of the presentation/poster
Background, including element of originality
Method
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Statement on ethical matters related to the study
Statement on funding source for the study
Statement that results will be presented at the conference
Preferred presentation mode (oral, poster, workshop or symposium)
- Theories and philosophies
‘Group 2’ and title of the presentation
Topic area, including element of originality
Theoretical perspective
Underpinning theories/philosophies (if any)
Argument to be made
Discussion
Conclusion
Preferred presentation mode (oral, poster, workshop or symposium)
- Innovations (practice and education), areas for future research, and research in progress seeking collaboration
‘Group 3’ and title of the presentation
Topic area, including element of originality
Description of innovation, area for research, or research seeking collaboration
Discussion
Conclusion
Preferred presentation mode (oral, poster, workshop or symposium)
- Art or drama
‘Group 4’ and title of the presentation
Topic area, including element of originality
Description of innovation, area for research, or research seeking collaboration
Discussion
Conclusion
Preferred presentation mode (oral, poster, workshop or symposium)
For more information please contact healthconferences@uclan.ac.uk or phone on +44 (0)1772 893809 or write to: Liz Roberts, University of Central Lancashire, Conference & Events, Vernon Building, Preston, PR1 2HE
The closing date for receipt of abstracts is 16th January 2015 and presenters will be informed of the reviewers decision by the end of February 2015.
Please note: All presenters and delegates will be required to pay a fee for each day of attendance
VAT not applicable