Centring the voices of birth mothers who faced infant removal through the co-production of the MUMS@RISC artwork: an arts-based evaluation of trauma-informed research collaboration and participation

BACKGROUND: In the UK, newborn babies are a growing group of children entering the care system due to safeguarding concerns. Their mothers often experienced a life course of adversity and trauma, resulting in fractured trust in public services and health and social care professionals. Moreover, pregnant and postnatal women with involvement from child protection agencies are known to have increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. To address the existing evidence gaps around perinatal healthcare and outcomes for this group of women, the MUMS@RISC study was designed, with cyclical involvement of an advisory group with women with lived experience. METHODS: We adopted a trauma-informed approach to public and patient involvement and engagement, which was reflected in our study values, the study design, as well as in our dissemination strategy. RESULTS: As part of the dissemination, a summary report with key research findings was co-produced, accompanied by artwork that was co-created by the advisory panel, the lead researcher and an artist. The step-by-step process of co-creation of the MUMS@RISC artwork allowed for gradual incorporation of feedback of the advisory panel, resulting in intricate layers of details and meaning in each of the illustrations. CONCLUSIONS: Our approach to trauma-informed research collaboration and participation demonstrates that involving people with traumatic lived experience in a robust, sensitive way can be done and strengthens the credibility, contextual accuracy and interpretative validity of research findings. Our evaluation of co-producing artwork as part of our dissemination strategy highlights the potentially healing and empowering nature of genuine and sensitive co-production, providing a rare opportunity to centre the voices of a marginalised group of mothers and reflect their stories within the wider research findings through art.