Health visitors' experiences supporting multiple birth families: An exploratory study

The aim of this study was to examine health visitorsu0027 experiences and the education and professional development needs of health visitors supporting multiple birth families. Two audio-recorded focus groups and a semi-structured telephone interview were undertaken with 14 health visitors working in the West Midlands. A topic guide was used to facilitate a consistent approach, and the recordings were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using qualitative methods. Three key themes were generated: My health visiting practice; Perceptions of the impact of multiple birth; and Strategies to support multiple birth families. The study provided an insight into the complex heath visitor role working with multiple birth families, and identified the challenges and more positive aspects of health visitor experiences. The findings will provide the basis for a national survey of health visitors in 2019.