̽»¨ÏµÁÐ

Zaheera Essat is a Senior Lecturer in Midwifery and Admissions Tutor for Midwifery in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ. In 2010 she completed her PhD entitled 'Zenana: the birth stories of migrant women' at the Mary Seacole Research Centre, ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

She has experience in midwifery practice, academia and research. Her academic and research interests include race disparities and inequity in maternal and infant health, the impact of migration and birth and the decolonisation of midwifery education. She is part of the Royal College of Midwives working group, which developed the Decolonising Midwifery Education toolkit. 

She is currently exploring the role and experiences of birth-partners in birth-planning practices. 

Centre for Reproduction Research (CRR)

Social Sciences Research and Innovation Institute

Bower, H, Bekoe, J, Chapman, M, Essat, Z, Gregory, B, Okiki, C, Palmer, S. and Patel, P. (2025) Decolonising Midwifery Education Toolkit. MIDIRS: Midwifery Digest 35(6): 19-25.

Royal College of Midwives (2023) Decolonising Midwifery Education Toolkit. RCM: London.

Essat, Z, Gregory, B, Ménage D. and Raynor M. (2023) Decolonising Midwifery Education: How ‘colour aware’ are midwives in assessing women and neonates with darker skin tones? Centre for Reproduction Research Blog. Nov 29.

Raynor M, Essat Z, Ménage D, Chapman M, Gregory B. (2021) Decolonising midwifery education part 1: how colour aware are you when assessing women with darker skin tones in midwifery practice? Practising Midwife 24(6): 36-43.

Ménage D, Chapman M, Raynor M, Essat Z, Wells R. (2021) Decolonising midwifery education part two: neonatal assessment. Practising Midwife 24(6): 44-49.

Essat, Z. (2011) Supporting women from a range of ethnic groups In, Williams, J. (Ed.) Midwifery Survival Guide: Common Questions and Answers for the Newly Qualified Midwife Quay Books: London.

Essat, Z. (2010) Zenana: The Birth Stories of Migrant Women in Britain. PhD Thesis (unpublished) ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ Leicester.

Hamilton, M. and Essat, Z. (2008) Minority ethnic users’ experiences and expectations of nursing care. Journal of Research in Nursing March 13: 102-110.

Johnson, M.R.D, Hamilton, P.M. and Essat, Z. (2008) ‘Be nice – smile as you do with everyone’ Learning Multicultural nursing in Leicester. Seacole Research Paper 2 Leicester: Mary Seacole Research Centre.

Essat, Z. (2006) “Migrant Women’s Birth Stories” In, Milnes, K, Horrocks, C, Kelly, N, Roberts, B. and Robinson, D. (Ed.) Narrative, Memory & Knowledge: Representations, Aesthetics, Contexts University of Huddersfield: Huddersfield.

Bolton, E, Essat, Z. and Jones, K. (2005) “The Verismo of the Quotidian: A Biographic Narrative Interpretive Approach to Two Diverse Research Topic” In, Kelly, N, Horrocks, C, Milnes, K, Roberts, B. and Robinson, D. (Ed.) Narrative, Memory and Everyday Life University of Huddersfield: Huddersfield.

Essat, Z. (2010) Zenana: The Birth Stories of Migrant Women in Britain. PhD Thesis (unpublished) ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ Leicester.

Hamilton, M. and Essat, Z. (2008) Minority ethnic users’ experiences and expectations of nursing care. Journal of Research in Nursing March 13: 102-110.

Johnson, M.R.D, Hamilton, P.M. and Essat, Z. (2008) ‘Be nice – smile as you do with everyone’ Learning Multicultural nursing in Leicester. Seacole Research Paper 2 Leicester: Mary Seacole Research Centre.

• Midwifery, Maternity Care
• Migration and Birth
• Race, Ethnicity, Culture and Diversity
• Race Disparities in Maternity Care
• Inequalities in Healthcare and Midwifery Education
• Decolonisation and Midwifery Education
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Narrative Inquiry

Midwifery and Maternity Care

Inequity in health and healthcare

Research Methods

PhD- Mary Seacole Research Centre, ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

BSc (Hons) Midwifery. 1^st Class Honours- ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

PGCLTHE with FHEA, Distinction- ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

BSc (Hons) Midwifery

Female Genital Mutilation for BSc (Hons) Paramedicine 

PhD studentship, ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

2023- Present: Global Majority Student Midwife Group, ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

2022- Present: Decolonising Midwifery Education Stakeholder Group, Royal College of Midwives.

2022- Present: National Senior Ethnic Minority Midwifery Expert Reference Group.

2004- 2007: Improvement of Recruitment of South Asian People into Nursing Project Steering Group, University of Leeds

2024- Present: Centre for Reproduction Research, ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

2021- Present: Stephen Lawrence Research Centre and Centre for Reproduction Research, ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

2017-2018: Diabetes Research Centre, Leicester.

2012-2014: BRECAD-Med (Breast Cancer and Adherence to Medication) Project- ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ, Leicester.

2011: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Mary Seacole Research Centre, ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ.

2002-2008: Evaluating Multicultural Nursing Project- ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ, Leicester.

24^th December 2023:  Professional Standards Authority.

Essat, Z. and Bower. What is happening now- actions underway to address healthcare inequalities and challenges.

9^th November 2023: Council of Deans of Health.

Essat, Z, Bower, H, Okiki, C, Chapman, C, Palmer, S, McLaughlin, S. and Beckoe, J. Decolonising Midwifery Education.

8^th November 2023: Reimagining Higher Education: Journeys of Decolonising. De Montfort University, Leicester.

Essat, Z, Gregory, B and Bower, H. Decolonising Midwifery Education.

8^th November 2023: Reimagining Higher Education: Journeys of Decolonising. De Montfort University, Leicester.

Essat, Z, Gregory, B and Bower, H. Poster Presentation: Decolonising Midwifery Education.

12^th October 2023: Janamapp Launch Event, Leicester.

Essat, Z. Decolonising Midwifery Education.

27^th July 2022: Royal College of Midwives Student Midwifery Forum.

Essat, Z. Midwives as Colleagues, Scholars and Leaders.

11^th May 2022: Decolonising ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ: trips, tricks and takeaways. De Montfort University, Leicester.

Essat, Z, Gregory, B and Menage, D. Decolonising Midwifery Education.

8^th July 2020: Decolonising ̽»¨ÏµÁÐ Project Podcast. De Montfort University, Leicester.

Essat, Z. and Raynor, M. How do we address race and racism in the classroom?

October 2006: Midwifery Research Conference. Trinity College, Dublin.

Essat, Z. Zenana: The Birth Stories of Migrant Women.                          

April 2006: Narrative, Memory & Knowledge: Representations, Aesthetics, Contexts Conference, University of Huddersfield.

Essat, Z. Migrant Women’s Birth Stories.

April 2005: Narrative, Memory & Knowledge: Representations, Aesthetics, Contexts Conference, University of Huddersfield.

Essat, Z. The Verismo of the Quotidian: A Biographic Narrative Interpretive Approach to Two Diverse Research Topic.

Sarah Thrower: Navigating the intersection of medical and reproductive healthcare in the UK: women’s lived experiences of gestational cancer. 2^nd Supervisor.