Upcming Talk: 27th Nov @ 1pm [Online]: Sarah Gong – A qualitative study of digital resources and health literacy of pregnant Chinese migrant women in maternity care in England

We’re delighted to welcome you to the next UCL Health Communication Network Research Seminar of the Autumn term. Note: This will be an online only event.

Next Event: Tuesday 27^th November, 1-2pm
Location: Online: Health Communication Network – Zoom Link
Code: 378496

Our next speaker, Dr. Sarah Gong, is an Associate Professor Candidate in the Department of Culture, Communication and Media at UCL’s IOE, Faculty of Education and Society. Sarah conducts research on health communication, with a particular emphasis on ethnic minority communities and the co-production of health knowledge and information.

Speaker: Dr. Sarah Gong

Talk title: A qualitative study of digital resources and health literacy of pregnant Chinese migrant women in maternity care in England

‘Health literacy significantly shapes healthcare experiences, particularly among migrant populations. This study explores how digitally-mediated, cross-national contexts affect the maternity care experiences of pregnant Chinese migrant women in England, an under-researched group. Drawing on 30 interviews with Chinese pregnant women (n=17) and midwives (n=13) across two NHS Trusts, findings reveal that most women do not engage with NHS-provided written materials due to language barriers, delayed information delivery, and fragmented care pathways. Instead, they rely heavily on Chinese-language online resources, which often contradict NHS practices and fuel anxiety, especially regarding ultrasound scans and perceived care quality. Limited digital health literacy and lack of awareness about data privacy further complicate their experiences. Midwives, though aware of the women’s digital engagement, are generally unfamiliar with the content accessed by the Chinese women and lack training in digital tools or NHS-endorsed resources. Engaging with the health literacy framework, this study underscores the need to examine how individual and systemic factors such as digital literacy, media use practices, healthcare provider awareness shape migrant health experiences. It calls for more nuanced approaches to health literacy that consider the complex, sometimes conflicting dynamics in migrant healthcare contexts.’

We look forward to seeing you there!

The UCL Health Communication Network Team

Zsófia, Emma, Andrea and Sinéad