Exploring the cost of the pregnancy pathway

The relationship between a lack of material resources and poor health, including during pregnancy, is well established, and the birth of a new baby can result in those close to the poverty line falling below it.

Evidence shows that there can be cost-related barriers to accessing universally provided and free-at-the-point-of-access services. This commissioned qualitative research by GCPH, NHS Health Scotland (now Public Health Scotland), NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and NHS Ayrshire & Arran explores the financial impacts of pregnancy for expectant and new families on low incomes in the two respective NHS Board areas.

It set out to establish what cost-related barriers existed in accessing antenatal healthcare and explore what health services can do to support the financial well-being of expectant parents and their families. The findings will be used to inform the development of strategies to better support low-income families during pregnancy and into the early stage of family life.