Barbara started following the work of Janice Grant, University of Salford, Health and Social Care.
Barbara started following the work of Moira McLoughlin, University of Salford, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Work.
Barbara started following the work of Annie Topping, University of Huddersfield, Human and Health Sciences.
Papers
Download (.pdf)Manchester and Salford Sure Start Plus Pilot Programme
Co-authored with Julie Wray
This evaluation considers the implementation of the Sure Start Plus Pilot (SSPP) programme at the two pilot sites of Manchester and Salford and was commissioned by the teenage pregnancy teams in these cities. It is a local evaluation considering how the programme has been implemented in the context of the national objectives and targets for the two cities.
The principal investigators were Julie Wray and Barbara Hastings-Asatourian, supported by an expert project team. The team recognised that the impact of such an evaluation would not be absolutely evident in the short term and the impact of a service aimed at tackling the effects of poverty and levelling out inequality would only be successfully monitored over the longer term.
However, short term objectives were set and the evaluation aimed to collect, examine and analyse data that reflected the extent to which SSPP had been implemented and monitored. This was achieved by both quantitative and qualitative methods examining statistics and capturing the experiences and opinions of the SSPP team. Findings identified marked diversity between Manchester and Salford in the way that SSPP was structured, organised and services provided. Variations existed in the staffing arrangements, partnerships, monitoring approaches and leadership styles.
Findings show that where quantitative data required nationally were rigorously collected by the teenage pregnancy teams at the sites, there was clear evidence of movement towards the targets and several examples of unique services and innovative practice. For example the uptake of support packages did increase over the 3 years, new roles with partnership agencies were established and the introduction of posts like the young fathers worker began to have an impact. There were some areas of incomplete data, and some areas where progress towards targets appeared to be less successful.
Following thematic analysis, focus group and face to face interview data have suggested why this is the case.
Key Messages
It became apparent throughout the course of this evaluation that many of the issues and lessons learned locally emerged as a consequence of issues which required addressing nationally. Several issues originating at the national level created problems in implementation and evaluation. Some
of the issues could be avoided by:
• Involving local teams in target setting.
• Involvement of young people in the planning stage.
• Setting realistic targets.
• Designing realistic monitoring data collection instrument and piloting it prior to
commencement of programmes.
The evaluators recommend the following:
• Many and varied channels of communication, and reinforcement of SSPP goals. This might
include using newsletters, websites and discussion groups, as well as more traditional means
of cascading information in formal meetings and briefings.
• That agencies identified in The Teenage Pregnancy Directory of Agencies be included in this communication process in both cities.
• That any changes taking place in the management and operation of the SSPP (e.g. monitoring, funding) also be communicated effectively. This should also include communication about the rationale behind the strategy, enabling open discussion and agreement before any future work begins.
• Recognition, publicity and joint writing up of innovative projects and good practice (especially for example those exemplified at national level the young mums group, the work of the young fathers worker and work with BME groups).
• An increase in prominence given to the prevention of conceptions and repeat conceptions.
• Closer working and apparent sharing between the two teenage pregnancy teams, so that services highlighted as examples of innovative practice in the National Evaluation can be piloted in both cities.
125 views
Seen by:
Contraception Education in Brazil
Published in the Practising Midwife, February 2005
My visit to Brazil in October 2004 came about after I launched the resource, ‘Contraception: the Board Game’, and began to investigate the potential of bringing the concept to an international audience. I was approached by the Practising Midwife to share my findings from my visit to Sao Paulo and Rio.
This article represents a combination of my observations on fertility, sexual health and sex education in Brazil. It includes information gathered from discussions with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private providers, from a commissioned UK Trade and Investment research paper and sources of statistics recommended to me by Brazilian
NGOs.
528 views
Seen by:
Pre and Post-Natal Exercise (for exercise teachers and personal trainers)
Published in Trax August/September 2004
Using guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, this article outlines what is safe exercise for each trimester and why, and offers suitable adaptations to exercise as pregnancy progresses. It also provides information about any additional screening (beyond PAR Q) required in pregnancy and the early post natal period. It has been written for exercise teachers and personal trainers, but may be helpful for regular exercisers and athletes who are pregnant or in the early post natal period.
380 views
Seen by: Pre-natal Nutrition
Published in Trax Feb/March 2004
Pre-natal nutritional needs explained trimester by trimester for exercise teachers and personal trainers.
5 views
Seen by: 
Focus on Women's Health: The Pelvic Floor and Bladder - a review
Published by Fitness Professionals in 2001
Hastings-Asatourian, B.A. (2001) Focus on Women?s Health:The Pelvic Floor and Bladder was published in Fitpro June/July 2001. Pages 8-10
Also presented at the Fitpro Spring Convention in 2001as "Pelvic Floor Work"
A shorter version is available on "Romance Revisited" one of Barbara Hastings-Asatourian's infoblogs at http://romance-revisited.blogspot.com/2008/09/whats-pelvic-floor-anyway.html
Full version
http://www.contraceptioneducation.co.uk/docs/PelvicFloor2001.pdf
Contents: Anatomy of the pelvic floor and bladder, their functions, stress incontinence and pelvic floor exercises.
71 views
Seen by: Race Equality: A Health Agenda
published in the Health Visitor in 1994
The HVA Race Equality sub-committee must look beyond equality of service provision if it is to tackle at their root issues of Racism and their impact on health....
7 views
Seen by: