Understanding the experiences of families who have completed the MECSH programme in a London borough: A phenomenological study

Background: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, health inequalities have grown, highlighting the importance for local authorities to prioritise giving children the best start in life. All local authorities are mandated to deliver the Healthy Child Programme, with some deploying enhanced home-visiting programmes within health-visiting teams for underserved families. Aim: To understand the experiences of parents who completed the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) programme in a chosen London borough. Method: A qualitative phenomenological study using primary data collection via semi-structured interviews that were recruited voluntarily. Findings: A thematic analysis highlighted that the participants' phenomenological perspective or lived experience of the MECSH programme centred around 5 key themes: programme delivery and awareness; relationship-based support from the health visitor; parental confidence, wellbeing and attachment; advocacy and access to support; community engagement. Conclusions: The experience of families who completed the MECSH programme in the chosen London borough was overwhelmingly positive. The MECSH programme should continue to be delivered to more families with identified vulnerabilities and continue to be delivered as a core part of the local health-visiting service.