Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Alison is Professor of Mother and Infant Public Health and leads the Mother, Infant and Child Health research group (MIRU) in the School of Health Sciences. Alison had a long career as a clinical midwife and midwifery educator working in England and Malawi before undertaking her PhD at the University of York, funded by an NIHR fellowship. Alison joined the University of Dundee in 2013 as a research fellow, was promoted to senior research fellow in 2014 and to professor in 2018.
Alison is well-known for her research on infant feeding and maternity care. She is a co-author of the groundbreaking Lancet Series on Midwifery that has influenced health policy globally. She was lead and now is senior author of the flagship Cochrane review on Support for healthy breastfeeding women with healthy term infants. Alison has undertaken commissioned research on breastfeeding for the World Health Organization and is currently scientific advisor to the Infant Feeding Survey in England. She is Chair of the UNICEF-UK Baby-Friendly Initiative Qualifications Board.
Research
Alison is passionate about reducing health inequities for women, babies and children worldwide and this underpins all her work. In the UK her focus is on experiences of minority ethnic and marginalised communities. She has recently undertaken research with the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities in England and Scotland which shaped the Scottish Government’s Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan.
Alison’s methodological expertise is in qualitative methods, evidence synthesis and mixed methods approaches. Community engagement and involvement are central to all her research. Another of Alison’s passions is growing research capacity in maternal and infant health through mentoring less experienced researchers, hosting visiting scholars, and clinical academic posts within the Mother, Infant and Child research group.
Alison has many global collaborations, and in 2019 inaugurated a University of Dundee-India maternal and newborn care research consortium that has undertaken research on the implementation of professional midwives in India. She is also involved in a collaboration with Norway to strengthen midwifery research and education in Ghana and Palestine. She is a founding and steering group member of the Quality Maternal and Newborn Quality Care global research alliance.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, How can breastfeeding support services best meet the needs of women of Bangladeshi origin living in the UK, University of York
Award Date: 1 Jan 2009
Master of Arts, Implementation of Peer Assessment in a Midwifery Education Programme: An action research study, University of York
Award Date: 1 Jan 1993
Keywords
- RG Gynecology and obstetrics
- Public Health
- RT Nursing
- Midwifery
- Culturally appropriate care
- Maternal and infant health and nutrition
- Qualitative methods
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Improving Outcomes For Children Exposed To Opioids In Pregnancy Across The World: An International Longitudinal Administrative Data Study (Joint with Universities: Stirling, Edinburgh & UCL)
Adegoke, O. (Investigator), Marryat, L. (Investigator) & McFadden, A. (Investigator)
28/10/24 → 27/10/28
Project: Research
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Exploring Homeless Women's Experiences Of Pregnancy Whilst In Temporary Accomodation
McFadden, A. (Investigator) & Symon, A. (Investigator)
4/07/22 → 3/07/25
Project: Research
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My Baby, My Choice: Experiences Of Mothers With Intellectual Disabilities And Their Infant Feeding Choices
Buell, S. (Investigator) & McFadden, A. (Investigator)
Project: Research
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Community Health Matters: Evaluation of Gypsy/Traveller Community Health Workers
Biazus-Dalcin, C. (Investigator) & McFadden, A. (Investigator)
14/06/21 → 13/12/23
Project: Research
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Action for Breastfeeding Toolkit
Farre, A., Cumming, S., Gavine, A., Shinwell, S., Buchanan, P., Lynn, F. A., Marshall, J. L., Wallace, L. & McFadden, A., 2025, 19 p. Dundee : University of Dundee.Research output: Other contribution
Open AccessFile44 Downloads (Pure) -
Dissemination of the Community Health Worker Service Evaluation in Scotland: Engaging with Gypsy/Travellers Using Stop Motion Animation
Biazus-Dalcin, C. (Lead / Corresponding author), McFadden, A. & Barclay Daly, C., 20 Feb 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
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Impact of exposure to opioids in pregnancy on offspring developmental outcomes in the pre-school years: an Umbrella Review
Robertson, S., Hughes, T., Boardman, J. P., McFadden, A., Whittaker, A. & Marryat, L. (Lead / Corresponding author), 9 Jan 2025, In: BMJ Paediatrics Open. 9, 1, 11 p., e003058.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile24 Downloads (Pure) -
Life support: Stories of the impact of the Community Health Worker service on Gypsy/Traveller communities in Scotland
Biazus-Dalcin, C., McFadden, A., Stewart, J., Francis , V., Barclay Daly, C. & Low, A. (Artist), 22 Apr 2025Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products
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Antenatal care of women who use opioids: A qualitative study of practitioners’ perceptions of strengths and challenges of current service provision in Scotland
Hughes, T., McFadden, A., Whittaker, A., Boardman, J. P. & Marryat, L. (Lead / Corresponding author), 23 Jan 2024, In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 24, 1, 12 p., 75.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)108 Downloads (Pure)
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Rebecca L. Jackson
Boehnke, J. (Host), Cunningham, K. (Contributor), Loret, H. (Contributor), Symon, A. (Contributor) & McFadden, A. (Contributor)
7 May 2025 → 9 May 2025Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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Tom Loney
Ali, N. (Host), McFadden, A. (Host), Gray, N. (Contributor) & Lee, E. (Contributor)
13 May 2025 → 14 May 2025Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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The 1st Mother, Infant and Child Research Unit (MIRU) Showcase
Biazus-Dalcin, C. (Organiser), McFadden, A. (Organiser), Marryat, L. (Organiser), Kayem, D. (Organiser), Qureshi, N. (Organiser), Shinwell, S. (Organiser), Widyaningrum, R. (Organiser), Lopez Bassols Reyes, I. (Organiser) & Mitchell, V. (Organiser)
14 May 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Celebrating the Gypsy/Traveller Community Health Worker service in Scotland
Biazus-Dalcin, C. (Organiser), McFadden, A. (Organiser) & Kayem, D. (Participant)
23 Apr 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Co-creating a video animation (online consultation): the impact of the Gypsy/Traveller Community Health Workers in Scotland
Biazus-Dalcin, C. (Organiser) & McFadden, A. (Organiser)
16 Jan 2025Activity: Other activity types › Other
Press/Media
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Gypsy/Traveller advocates build health service trust
Biazus-Dalcin, C. & McFadden, A.
29/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Report shows benefit of training health advocates within the Gypsy/Traveller community
Biazus-Dalcin, C. & McFadden, A.
24/04/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Breast is best for older babies too: Rebecca McQuillan tackles a persistent taboo
8/08/16
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Massive health benefits from more breastfeeding
29/01/16
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Thesis
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How can breastfeeding support services best meet the needs of women of Bangladeshi origin living in the UK?
McFadden, A. (Author), Renfrew, M. (Supervisor) & Atkin, K. (Supervisor), 2010Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy