The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute-funded study is being carried out in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the government's advice about social distancing to help pregnant women avoid catching and spreading the disease.

The project will study up to 30 women between the ages of 18 and 50 years who are currently pregnant and living in Bristol and surrounding areas. The researchers would like to hear their views and experiences during the current pandemic in a one-off 30-minute telephone or videocall interview.

This study will investigate pregnant women's views on:

• the social distancing guidance;
• ability to follow guidance;
• the impacts that social distancing measures are having on them

Dr Emma Anderson, Health Psychologist and Senior Research Associate in the Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS), who is leading the study, said: "We are living in unprecedented times, which require mass behaviour change to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. Pregnant women have been listed by Public Health England (PHE) as an 'at risk' group for serious illness from the disease and advise extra vigilance with social distancing restrictions compared to others.

"We currently do not know how easy it is for pregnant women to follow these restrictions, which is why we are running the study. Our findings will be shared with policymakers and could make a difference to other pregnant women within the current health crisis."

Thank you kindly to all the women who have been interested in the study. Interviewing has now finished. The Centre for Academic Child Health website will be updated when there are outputs to report.