The Medical Sociology Group of the British Sociology Association has awarded the prestigious Phil Strong Memorial Prize to the University of Aberdeen Ph.D. student Emma Pitchforth. The Medical Sociology Group made the announcement at its annual conference in York held at the end of September.
The prize of £ 1,000 was awarded for Emma's study into the needs of the poorest women in accessing emergency obstetric care in Bangladesh. There is evidence that the poorest women in Bangladesh are least likely to use maternal health services such as antenatal care. Their births are also less likely to be attended by a health professional. This study explores issues around availability of appropriate treatment, and its effects on poor women and their families. Emma conducts her research at the Dugald Baird Centre for Research on Women's Health at the University of Aberdeen. Emma is an Aberdeen graduate, from Aberfeldy with a BSc Health Sciences.
Dr. Edwin van Teijlingen, one of Emma's two supervisors, said: "The university is very proud that one of our PhD students has been selected for this award. Emma is very gifted student and this prize money will enable her to conduct more fieldwork in Bangladesh. "
Emma, currently on fieldwork in Bangladesh, commented by email: "I am honoured by this prize. It will help me pay for travel to more poor women living in areas further away from hospital."
The Dugald Baird Centre researches the causes, circumstances and consequences of reproductive health problems. The centre assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of care to prevent or treat these problems, determine the acceptability, appropriateness and equity of this care and identify effective methods both for conducting valid, reliable and ethical research and for implementing research findings.