Fieldwork

Since summer 2019, the Mothers of Sierra Leone team has been traveling to Sierra Leone for ongoing research, filmmaking and dissemination, and community engagement. In Sierra Leone, we conduct interviews and focus groups with mothers, healthcare workers, and community members on maternal health and other health topics, gathering valuable feedback to enhance our films’ effectiveness

2024 - Olivia Hauck, Sophie Ritzer, Ellen Murray, MJ Le Vu, Constance Mulligan, Sofia Rousseau

Set up a new 12-month study on the efficacy of films in three rural locations
Integrate colleagues from UNIMAK public health program as collaborators and research assistants
Study focuses on the efficacy of documentary films to improve maternal health outcomes in rural areas with limited advanced technologies, leading to increased health disparities and preventable maternal mortalities
Three specific rural clinics within fifty kilometers of Makeni City identified: Maforay, Robot, and Rotonta
Mixed methods approach planned, using qualitative focus groups and quantitative surveys
Distinct focus groups with mothers, fathers, and healthcare workers
Surveys to be conducted in community rather than clinical sites
One focus group monthly at each rural clinical site
100 surveys with mothers and 100 surveys with fathers to be completed over the 12-month study period

2023 - Brooke Erickson, Bea Arnfield, Christina Enodien, Lauren Lencovich, Tiffany Valencia, Hannah Falatko

Filmwork focused on perinatal care
Funding from Davis Projects for Peace and Office of International Affairs Faculty Internationalization Grant
Brought solar-powered, portable cinema kit, purchased with funds from the Faculty Internationalization Grant
Established 12-month, mixed methods study to evaluate the efficacy of our films with mothers, working with 12 different clinical locations in and around the Makeni City area
Installed 11 televisions at different clinical locations to support our study and the regular viewing of our films
Established new partnerships with Makeni Government Hospital, Magbenteh Community Hospital, the National Midwifery School, and the University of Makeni
completed films on maternal mental health, warning/danger signs in pregnancy, exclusive breastfeeding, the role of the father, and perinatal nutrition

2022 - Jordyn Pykon, Christine Kwon, Nahjiah Miller, Tristan Fang, Sandrine Haab

Filmwork focused on antenatal care
Conducted first focused groups designed to evaluate the efficacy of our films
Set up our first three-month pilot study focused at Makama Health Clinic at which MSK conducted regular bi-weekly focus groups
Established new relationships at rural clinical and community settings and Ernest Bai Koroma University
Completed films on family planning, health-care training programs, obstetric scans, Holy Spirit Hospital antenatal care program, and the Makeni Midwifery school training for antenatal care 2022 pic

2020 & 2021 - Dia Zheng

Field work was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

2019 - Grace Boak, Jessica Mun, Griffin Fox

Established first community and clinical partnerships
Developed relationships with World Hope International, CHAMPS, Marie Stopes, Makeni Midwifery School, and Aberdeen Women’s Centre
Built relationships with Solomon Samura and Carrie Jo Cain at CHAMPS
Made films on Antenatal Care Program, Midwifery School, Masanga Surgical Training Program, NEMS (National Emergency Training Program), and others

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