MISS HEBA FARAJALLAH

Biography

I am a PhD student at the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. My research focuses on the maternity care experiences of asylum-seeking and refugee women in Scotland, aiming to fill critical gaps in the existing literature. 

My journey as a midwife began in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, and continued with my completion of an MSc in Midwifery at the University of Aberdeen in 2014. Currently, I work as a migrant midwife in Scotland, which has strengthened my commitment to improving maternity care and deepened my passion for researching the experiences of vulnerable women.

My goal is to make a lasting impact on the lives of asylum-seeking and refugee women by influencing maternity care practices, policies, and education. Beyond my PhD, I am dedicated to advancing this work through clinical practice, academia, collaborations, and policy discussions and ensuring that these women's voices are heard and reflected in maternity care improvements.

External Memberships

- Member of Critical Midwifery Studies ( CMS).

- Guest editor of the CMS special issue. 

- Member of the Association of South Asian Midwives (ASAM). 

Research Overview

Welcome to our study:

Maternity Care Experiences of Asylum-seeking and Refugee Women in Scotland (MACAWS).

 ♥ Study Update ♥ 

Data collection completed in April 2025. Analysis is now underway- thank you very much to everyone who participated in our study!

We will share the study results once they are ready. A knowledge exchange event is planned for mid-2026 to present and discuss the findings, and we will keep you updated.  Stay connected with us :)

♥  تحديث للدراسة  ♥

. تم الانتهاء من جمع البيانات في ابريل 2025. نحن الآن في مرحلة تحليل البيانات - شكرًا جزيلًا لكل من شارك في دراستنا

سنشارك النتائج معكم عندما تكون جاهزة. نخطط لعقد فعالية لتبادل المعرفة في منتصف عام 2026 لعرض ومناقشة نتائج الدراسه، وسنوافيكم بالتحديثات في حينها.

 خليكم  علي تواصل معنا  :)

Thank You for Your Contributions! ♥♥

 A big thank you to the 63 women who responded to the MACAWS study survey!  Your input is invaluable.

Special thanks also to the 28 women and healthcare professionals who shared their experiences in the MACAWS interviews. Your insights are crucial to improving maternity care for refugee and asylum-seeking women and others. 

Research Overview (Recruitment Phase – Completed)

The MACAWS study explores maternity care experiences of asylum-seeking and refugee women as well as the perspectives of maternity healthcare professionals in Scotland. By learning from these experiences, our aim is to improve maternity services and ensure better care for all.

During the recruitment phase (completed in April 2025), participation took place through:

• A short survey (available in English, Arabic, Persian, and Urdu) with an accompanying participant information sheet and audio version.

• Interviews with asylum-seeking and refugee women who had used maternity services in Scotland within the past five years.

• Interviews with healthcare professionals who provide maternity care to refugee and asylum-seeking women in Scotland.

Asylum-seeking and refugee women who took part in the interviews received thank-you vouchers in recognition of their time and contributions. In addition, survey participants were entered into a prize draw for vouchers.

Contact Information

If you would like further information, please contact one of the research team using the following details:

Heba Farajallah (MACAWS researcher),

• Email: h.farajallah.20@abdn.ac.uk,
• Tel: 07964332901

Mairead Black (Chief investigator of MACAWS)

• Email: mairead.black@abdn.ac.uk
• Tel: 01224 438437

Current Research

Current Research

We are now in the analysis stage of the MACAWS study. This includes:

• Translating Arabic interview transcripts into English.

• Transcribing interviews in preparation for analysis.

• Coding and theme development using NVivo software.

• Employing descriptive statistics and data visualisation to analyse quantitative survey data.

• Applying a mixed-methods approach and triangulating survey and interview data to strengthen the findings.

The Findings will inform both academic publications and practical recommendations for maternity care services in Scotland.

Achievements to Date

• Data Collection Completed: Surveys and interviews were successfully completed in April 2025.

• Workshops & Information Sessions: Ten sessions were held with asylum-seeking and refugee women, community members, and healthcare professionals to raise awareness and encourage participation.

• Feedback & Refinement: Insights from participants/ PPI helped refine our approach to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.

• Ethics & Governance: Amendments were submitted and approved, leading to updated study information sheets and surveys.

Recruitment Phase (Completed)

Invitation to Asylum-Seeking and Refugee Women in Scotland (Completed)

Recruitment for this part of the study was completed in April 2025. The text below is retained for reference only.

How participation was invited

 ⇒  Survey 

Please read our Participant Information Sheet and take our online survey in your preferred language:

• Arabic  عربي
• Urduاردو 
• English
• Persian فارسي

Survey adverts for women:

• Arabic عربي 
• Urdu أردو 
• Persian فارسي 
• English

 Participants who complete the survey have a chance to win a £25 voucher as a thank you!* 

Access Audio Tracks: Prefer audio? Listen to our Participant Information Sheet in: 

• Arabic عربي
• English

⇒  Interview 

Share your experiences in English or Arabic. What’s involved?

• A one-time interview (45–60 minutes) is conducted in person, online, or by phone. The interview will explore your views and experiences of your care.
• Interviews are confidential and will be audio-recorded with your permission.
• Participants will receive a £20 voucher as a thank-you **.
•  An information sheet with further details about the study is enclosed. 

  مرحلة المقابلات ( تم إكمال هذه المرحلة من الدراسة في أبريل 2025. تم الاحتفاظ بالمعلومات أدناه كمرجع فقط. )

ماذا شملت المقابلة؟ 

يمكن إجراء المقابلات (45-60 دقيقة)  شخصيا أو عبر الهاتف أو عبر الانترنت . خلال المقابلة سوف نسألكِ عن تجربتك وآراءك في استخدام خدمات   الرعاية الصحية الخاصة بالأمومة

قرارك بالمشاركة سيبقى سرياً.  سيتم تسجيل المقابلات صوتيًا بموافقتكِ، وسيتم الحفاظ على سرية أي معلومات يتم جمعها - 

سوف تحصلين على قسيمة شرائية بقيمة 20 جنيهًا إسترلينياً كشكر لكِ على المشاركة - 

. لمعرفة المزيد حول الدراسة الرجاء النقرهنا - 

 :إذا كنتِ مهتمة في المشاركة أو تحتاجين معلومات أخري، الرجاء التواصل مع الباحثة هبة فرج الله

 07964332901:عبرالهاتف

 h.farajallah.20@abdn.ac.uk : الايميل 

لديك الحرية في مشاركة معلومات الاتصال الخاصة بي مع أي سيدة لاجئة أو طالبة لجوء في اسكتلندا وقد تكون مهتمة في هذه الدراسة -

Recruitment of Maternity Healthcare Professionals in Scotland ( Completed)-  Interview Study  

We invited maternity healthcare support workers, midwives, health visitors, obstetricians, and maternity managers to take part in this study.  

What it involved:

• A one-time interview (45–60 minutes) conducted in person, online, or by phone about your experiences providing care for asylum-seeking and refugee women in Scotland. 
• Interviews are confidential and will be audio-recorded with your permission.
• An information sheet with further details about the study is enclosed.

Knowledge Exchange

Future Plans

• Host a knowledge exchange event in mid-2026 to share and discuss the study findings.

• Continue engaging with communities and NHS partners to ensure the results are widely shared and accessible.

• Prepare publications and resources to inform maternity care policy and practice in Scotland.

Contact

For further information or updates about the MACAWS study, please contact:

Heba Farajallah (MACAWS Researcher) email: h.farajallah.20@abdn.ac.uk | Tel: 07964 332901

Dr Mairead Black (Chief Investigator)  email: mairead.black@abdn.ac.uk | Tel: 01224 438437

Funding and Grants

• AFZ Giles scholarship- University of Aberdeen Development Trust.
• NHS Grampian Practice Education.
• The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust (IMT) -Dora Opoku Midwives Award.
• The Florence Nightingale Foundation Fund.