Professor Bertha Ochieng

Job: Professor of integrated health and social care

Faculty: Health and Life Sciences

School/department: School of Nursing and Midwifery

Address: De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH

T: +44 (01)116 2078973

E: bertha.ochieng@dmu.ac.uk

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Personal profile

Bertha Ochieng is Professor of Integrated Health and Social Care at De Montfort University. She has extensive experience of health and social care provision as a clinician, an academic and as a researcher working with community groups and health and social care providers. Her academic and research focus is on improving health and social care through the provision of high quality education and research that provides positive results to marginalised and social disadvantage populations throughout the life span. Bertha’s strengths are in developing solutions for addressing the health and social care needs of socially disadvantaged populations and building relationships with community groups and practitioners in the health and social care sector. Her work has resulted in collaborations with diverse teams, comprising of, voluntary sector organisations, academics, NHS Trusts and social care teams locally, nationally and internationally. Her research portfolio includes three broad themes:

Community empowerment and engagement to enable the voices of marginalised and socially disadvantaged populations to be heard in the planning and delivery of services. Examples of work in this area: Migrants families - barriers with accessing and utilising health promotion services in the UK; examining multi-ethnic parents’ views on healthy eating practices for children, Black and minority ethnic young people and their families’ experiences and views on healthy lifestyles.

Engaging health and social care providers to identify framework that supports development of integrated models of health and social care to manage long-term non-communicable diseases such as incorporating digital solutions in health and social care, identification of cultural sensitive health promotion models for prevention and self-management of lifestyle related illnesses; examples of work include: Using smart-home sensors with older adults with long-term complex multi-morbidity; working with health practitioners to develop an evidence-based training tool for weight management

Service development and knowledge transfer activities to enable health and social care workforce deliver high quality care. Examples of projects she has led include: community health practitioners experiences of using telephone triage; practice nurse development programme to manage patients in the community with long-term conditions, examining the impact of continuing professional development on healthcare outcomes;

Research group affiliations

Nursing and Midwifery
Social science
Public policy
Health sciences

Publications and outputs

A Qualitative Exploration on Perceived Socio-Cultural Factors Contributing to Undernutrition Among Under-Fives in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
dc.title: A Qualitative Exploration on Perceived Socio-Cultural Factors Contributing to Undernutrition Among Under-Fives in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania dc.contributor.author: Frumence, Gasto; Jin, Yannan; Kasangala, Amalberga; Mang’enya, Mary; Bakar, Saidah; Ochieng, B. dc.description.abstract: Objective: Under nutrition especially among under-fives is a major public health challenge in Tanzania. However, the contribution of cultural practices to child under nutrition is often overlooked. This study aimed to explore the perceived socio-cultural factors contributing to the persisting under nutrition among under-fives in Tanzania. Methods: The study applied focus group discussion (FDGs) with forty practitioners to examine the sociocultural factors contributing to under nutrition during early childhood. The study participants were purposively selected and thematic analysis was used to identify themes within the data. Results: This study revealed that, under nutrition for under-fives is caused by a number of socio-cultural factors including existence of gender inequality related to dietary practices and qualities, women’s excessive workload, patriarchy social-norm, excessive alcohol use and cultural taboos prohibiting women and girls from eating certain types of nutrient dense foods. Conclusion: The study highlights the multiplicity of factors including socio-cultural perspectives contributing to under nutrition among under-fives, and calls for a concerted efforts in developing and implementing issue-specific and culturally sensitive strategies towards elimination of child under nutrition. dc.description: open access article
A Case Study of a Pilot Smart Home Monitoring System with Older Adults Living Alone in East Midlands
dc.title: A Case Study of a Pilot Smart Home Monitoring System with Older Adults Living Alone in East Midlands dc.contributor.author: Chaudhry, Ismail; Chamley, Carol; Nijhof, Dewy; Ochieng, Rebecca; Rogerson, Louise; Wong, Richard; Prasad, Rishabh; Ochieng, B. dc.description.abstract: The aim of this project was to examine older adults and their next-of-kins’ experiences of using smart home technology. The technology unobtrusively monitors the older adult’s physical functional ability to undertake their daily activities at home. Using a case study approach, the participants comprised three family units: three older adults with a history of long-term co-morbidities and who lived alone, along with their next-of-kin (n=4). The older adults were all female aged between 72- 82 years of age, while the four next-of-kin were all females aged between 40 and 55 years of age. Participants experiences of using the smart home technology was evaluated at three- and eight-months post installation via in-depth one-to-one interviews with the older adults and their next-of-kin. The older adults described how the smart home sensors reduced their levels of anxiety because they were ‘not feeling alone’. Likewise, their next-of-kin described how the sensors gave them an insight to their older relatives’ activities of daily living, as well as the challenges they experienced. The findings highlighted the benefit of smart home technologies in terms of helping older adults and their next-of-kin monitor their daily activities, reduce social isolation, and adopt positive health and behavioural changes. dc.description: open access article
Nurturing Babies During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Resilience, Art and Creativity The Talent 25 Longitudinal (Sub-sample Study Executive Summary)
dc.title: Nurturing Babies During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Resilience, Art and Creativity The Talent 25 Longitudinal (Sub-sample Study Executive Summary) dc.contributor.author: Nijhof, Dewy; Ochieng, Rebecca; Daxini, Amar; Diawal-Bot, Diretnan; Owens, Christopher; Ochieng, B.
Exploring Parental Experiences of Online Engagement with Arts and Creative Activities During the COVID-19 pandemic: The Talent 25 Longitudinal Sub-sample Study (Executive Summary)
dc.title: Exploring Parental Experiences of Online Engagement with Arts and Creative Activities During the COVID-19 pandemic: The Talent 25 Longitudinal Sub-sample Study (Executive Summary) dc.contributor.author: Daxini, Amar; Dikwal-Bot, Diretnan; Blair, Krista; Ochieng, Rebecca; Nijhof, Dewy; Ochieng, B.
My Story: Using a life story approach to build friendships between younger and older people to alleviate loneliness and social isolation
dc.title: My Story: Using a life story approach to build friendships between younger and older people to alleviate loneliness and social isolation dc.contributor.author: Clayton, David; Clifton, Andrew; de Vries, Kay; Kuuya, Henson; Ochieng, B. dc.description.abstract: Loneliness and social isolation for older people remain a problem. Intergenerational befriending may be one solution that could help with loneliness and social isolation. ‘My Story’ is based on a life story approach aimed at facilitating friendship by providing a format for older and younger people to interact. An original pilot was undertaken to test the approach by bringing together older people identified as lonely by a voluntary sector provider and pairing these with a student volunteer. The students visited the older person over six weeks to discuss their life story and create an artefact based on the story of the older person. Three pairings were studied to explore the experiences of the older and younger person using ‘My Story’. The focus of the case studies was if a therapeutic alliance emerged which could lead to friendship. The research found that in the two of the pairings, ‘My Story’ helped to create mutual benefit and a therapeutic bond that could lead to friendship. As this was an exploratory and small pilot, more cases and further research is required to fully assess if ‘My Story’ is an effective approach to intergenerational befriending. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
Augmented video consultations in care homes during the covid-19 pandemic
dc.title: Augmented video consultations in care homes during the covid-19 pandemic dc.contributor.author: Ochieng, Lorraine; Salehi, Mahan; Ochieng, Rebecca; Nijhof, Dewy; Wong, Richard; Gupta, Vinay; Prasad, Rishabh; Ochieng, B. dc.description.abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an unprecedented implementation of remote consultations in UK primary care services. Specifically, older adults in care homes had a high need for infection prevention due to their existing health conditions. GP practices in the East Midlands incorporated augmented video consultations with the potential to support remote healthcare assessments for older adults at care homes. Aim: To explore GPs and care home staff experiences of the use of augmented video consultation as a mechanism to perform remote examinations of older adults in care homes. Design and setting: Qualitative interviews were conducted with GPs and care home staff during May-August 2020. Method: A convenience sample of GPs (n=5), nurses (n=12) and senior health care assistants (n=3) were recruited using a purposive approach. Data was collected through semi-structured telephone interviews and was analysed using framework analysis. Results: Findings from participants indicated that augmented video consultation enables real-time patient examinations to aid diagnosis; and promotes person-centred care in meeting the needs of older adults. The participants also discussed the challenges of video consultations for patients with cognitive impairment and those under end-of-life care. Conclusion: Augmented video consultations show great potential in terms of GPs providing primary care services for care homes. However, healthcare staff must be involved in the development of the technology, and consideration should be given to the needs of older adults with cognitive impairment and those under end-of-life care. It is also vital that training is available to encourage confidence and competency in implementing the technology. dc.description: open access journal
‘They are kids, let them eat’: A qualitative investigation into the parental beliefs and practices of providing a healthy diet for young children among a culturally diverse and deprived population in the UK
dc.title: ‘They are kids, let them eat’: A qualitative investigation into the parental beliefs and practices of providing a healthy diet for young children among a culturally diverse and deprived population in the UK dc.contributor.author: Cook, Erica Jane; Powell, Faye; Ali, Nasreen; Penn-Jones, Catrin; Ochieng, B.; Constantinou, Georgina; Randhawa, Gurch dc.description.abstract: In the UK ethnic minority children are at greater risk of obesity and weight-related ill health compared to the wider national population with the factors that influence the provision of a healthy diet among these populations less understood. An interpretive qualitative study com-prised of 24 single sex semi-structured focus groups was conducted with 110 parents (63 mothers and 47 fathers) of young children (aged 0-5). Participants were recruited from deprived and ethnically diverse wards in Luton, UK and self-identified as being white British, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, black African and Caribbean or Polish. The findings highlighted a wide range of inter-relating psychological and socio-cultural factors that inform and underpin parental beliefs and practices relating to providing children a healthy diet. Parents whilst aware of the im-portance of providing children a healthy diet; challenges, particularly among mothers surround-ing lack of time and balancing competing responsibilities were clear barriers to providing a healthy diet to children. Access, affordability of healthy food alongside the over exposure of cheap convenient and unhealthy processed foods made it increasingly difficult for parents to pro-vide a healthy diet to their growing families. Household food practices were also found to be situated within the wider context of socio-cultural and religious norms around cooking and eat-ing with cultural identity and upbringing. dc.description: open access journal
Examining GP online consultation in a primary care setting in east midlands, UK
dc.title: Examining GP online consultation in a primary care setting in east midlands, UK dc.contributor.author: Nijhof, Dewy; Ingram, Andy; Ochieng, Rebecca; Roberts, Emma-Jane; Poulton, Barnaby; Ochieng, B. dc.description.abstract: Background Increasing pressure threatens to overwhelm primary care services, affecting the quality of care and their role as gatekeepers to specialised care services. This study investigated healthcare users’ acceptability of – and the effectiveness of – an e-consultation system in primary care services. Methods Seven GP practices in East-Midlands, all of whom use online consultation system participated in the study, with a retrospective review being undertaken of 189 electronic patients’ records (age range of 18–76 years) over 5 months. The focus was on the electronic records of patients who accessed the service for five different conditions identified as presenting common conditions seen by the GPs practices. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS to perform an exploratory data analysis and descriptive statistics. Results The results showed a positive reception of the online consultation platform, with an average satisfaction score of 4.15 (most likely to recommend score = 5). Given the nature of the conditions, 47.6% of patients had experienced a previous episode of the health condition they were seeking consultation for, and a total of 72% had existing comorbidities. Follow-up activity occurred for 87.3% of patients, 66.1% of which included at least one follow-up visit for the same condition as the initial online consultation. Conclusion The results suggest that online consultation is convenient for patients, and it also has the potential to relieve pressure placed on primary care services. Although a number of challenges were identified, such as patient verification, this study gives insight into – and enhances our understanding of – the use of online GP consultations. dc.description: open access article
Improving support for breastfeeding mothers: a qualitative study on the experiences of breastfeeding among mothers who reside in a deprived and culturally diverse community
dc.title: Improving support for breastfeeding mothers: a qualitative study on the experiences of breastfeeding among mothers who reside in a deprived and culturally diverse community dc.contributor.author: Cook, Erica; Powell, Faye; Ali, Nasreen; Penn-Jones, Catrin; Ochieng, B.; Randhawa, Gurch dc.description.abstract: Background: The United Kingdom has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding shown to be closely related to the mothers’ age, ethnicity and social class. Whilst the barriers that influence a woman’s decision to breastfeed are well documented, less is known how these barriers vary by the UK’s diverse population. As such, this study aimed to explore mothers’ experiences of breastfeeding and accessing breastfeeding services offered locally amongst a deprived and culturally diverse community. Methods: A qualitative interpretive study comprising of 63 mothers (white British n = 8, Pakistani n = 13, Bangladeshi n = 10, black African n = 15 and Polish n = 17) who took part in single-sex focus groups, conducted in local community centres across the most deprived and ethnically diverse wards in Luton, UK. The focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically using Framework Analysis. Results: The most common barriers to breastfeeding irrespective of ethnicity were perceptions surrounding pain and lack of milk. Confidence and motivation were found to be crucial facilitators of breastfeeding; whereby mothers felt that interventions should seek to reassure and support mothers not only during the early stages but throughout the breastfeeding journey. Mothers particularly valued the practical support provided by health care professions particularly surrounding positioning and attachment techniques. However, many mothers felt that the support from health care professionals was not always followed through. Conclusions: The findings presented inform important recommendations for the design and implementation of future programs and interventions targeted at reducing breastfeeding inequalities. Interventions should focus on providing mothers practical support and reassurance not only during the early stages but throughout their breastfeeding journey. The findings also highlight the need for tailoring services to support diverse communities which acknowledge different traditional and familial practices. dc.description: open access article
Developing healthy weight maintenance through co-creation: a partnership with Black African migrant community in East Midlands
dc.title: Developing healthy weight maintenance through co-creation: a partnership with Black African migrant community in East Midlands dc.contributor.author: Ochieng, Lorraine; Amaugo, Lucky; Ochieng, B. dc.description.abstract: Background: Obesity prevalence in the UK varies according to ethnicity, with children from minority ethnic groups experiencing higher levels, and yet, there is a scarcity of projects that involve minority ethnic groups in the design of interventions to promote healthy weight maintenance. This paper presents an account of the involvement of the participants in a co-creation activity to design public health resources for the maintenance of healthy weight. Methods: The material is drawn from a study that involved Black African parents (n=30) and Health Visitors(n=32), residing and working in the East Midlands, UK, respectively. The participants were purposely selected according to an inclusion/exclusion criterion and invited to participate in seven focus groups (FG) conducted for parents (FG-4) and health visitors (FG-3) at a time and place convenient to the participants. Following the focus groups, the Black-African parents participated in three co-creation workshops. Results: The co-creation activities involved the participants, the researcher and a nutritionist. The outcome was an African heritage eatwell guide and a framework to promote healthy weight, which was well-received when presented to members of the community and local health and social care practitioners. Conclusion: The co-creation process went beyond giving the participant a voice in shaping the promotion of healthy weight within their community, as they also became active participants in the design and creation of the specific public health service. The approach offered the potential for improved levels of community satisfaction for a public health intervention. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version

View a full listing of Bertha Ochieng's publications and outputs from 2010

Research interests/expertise

Access and utilization of health and social care services,
Concepts of health and wellbeing
Diabetes and long-term disease self-management
Inequalities in health and social care,
Parenting styles and early child rearing
Self-care strategies in health and social care
Socially disadvantaged populations and immigrant health
Mixed methods
Qualitative methodologies
Service development
Systematic reviews

User and carer experiences/perspectives of health and social care

Areas of teaching

Health promotion
Public health
Systematic review
Research methodologies

Working with communities to improve health

Qualifications

Post-graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management in Higher Education, University of Bradford.
PhD, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds.
MSc Health Education Health Promotion; Leeds Metropolitan University.
Post-graduate Certificate in Education; University of Huddersfield.
MA Development Studies; University of Leeds.
BSc (Hons); Leeds.

Membership of professional associations and societies

Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy (UK)
Nursing & Midwifery Council (UK)

Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (UK)
Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health (European association)

Centre for Ethnicity and Racism Studies (Leeds)

Conference attendance

2016: Diabetes care pathway: an analysis of self-management, 9th European Public Health Conference, Vienna

2016Spirituality and meditation as mediating factors in Black families wellbeing. Mental Health and Cultural Diversity International Conference, Leicester.

2014: Welfare systems and wellbeing: exploration of Black Families' Experiences and Beliefs, Ninth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

2012: Health literacy and access to health and social welfare services. Seventh International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Conference, Universidada Abat Oliba CEU, Barcelona Spain.

2012: Community group actions: their emergence, maintenance and continuance. Seventh International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Conference, Universidada Abat Oliba CEU, Barcelona Spain.

2010: Spirituality as a mediating factor in Black families beliefs and experiences of health and wellbeing. Interdisciplinary Social Sciences conference, University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
2010: Minority ethnic families and the challenges to practice a healthy lifestyle. 8^th European Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Nurses’, Pathos, Cyprus.

Consultancy work

Professor Ochieng provides consultancy for a range of health and social care organisations. Her portfolio of activities includes specialist staff training on service development, user and family involvement, and ethnicity and cultural perspectives.