A new digital tool aimed at improving maternity care access for South Asian communities has been launched in Leeds, offering tailored support throughout pregnancy and early parenthood.
Developed by the maternity team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the free JANAM app brings together a range of culturally relevant, multilingual resources designed to help women and families better understand their pregnancy journey.
The app features information videos in seven languages – English, Gujarati, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi and Tamil – with content shaped by both healthcare professionals and patients. Topics span antenatal care, labour and birth, emergencies, mental health, bereavement and the postnatal period.
Families can also personalise their experience through a pregnancy calendar and opt-in for regular public health notifications, helping them stay informed at each stage.
Jenny Roddy, Consultant Midwife for Health Equity at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said the app marks a significant step in addressing disparities in maternity outcomes.
“We are really pleased to be bringing the JANAM app to South Asian communities in Leeds,” she said. “It helps mums feel confident and informed every step of the way, offering information that people can understand and relate to.
“There are some really useful videos explaining important topics such as birth choices, pain relief options, different pregnancy conditions, induction of labour and caesarean birth, which have already proved popular with families.
“We know that nationally, women from Global Ethnic Majority backgrounds can experience poorer health outcomes during pregnancy and after birth. This app will help tackle those inequalities and give women the power to make informed choices about their care.”
The initiative reflects growing efforts across the NHS to reduce health inequalities and improve engagement with underserved communities by providing accessible, language-specific resources.
Tasneema, a midwife and JANAM app Champion at the Trust, described the platform as a “powerful tool” for improving awareness and accessibility.
“I’m really excited for the launch of the JANAM app,” she said. “I truly believe it will help improve understanding, awareness, informed choice and accessibility of care for women from South Asian backgrounds.”
While the app will be offered routinely to South Asian patients, families can begin using it at any stage of pregnancy or shortly after birth by requesting an access code from their midwife.
The JANAM app was originally developed by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Leicester, with a focus on delivering evidence-based, accessible information to better connect South Asian families with maternity services.
Healthcare leaders hope the rollout in Leeds will not only enhance patient experience but also contribute to longer-term improvements in maternal health outcomes across diverse communities.
