Childbearing - Qualitative Research Network (BfiN) is an international research network which aims to promote and develop international cooperation in the field of qualitative childbearing research.

Since its initiation in 2002 as a Nordic network, it has developed into an international research network uniting more than 90 researchers and doctoral students from 9 countries.
About the network
The primary aim of the network is to promote international research collaboration towards excellence in childbearing research.
The increasing trend of applying risk perspectives to life world phenomena challenges the researchers in the network to ask ethical and critical questions in humanistic collaborative research and pursue a collaborative critical doctoral and postdoctoral education.
It is important that our research have an impact on the quality of care of the unique family in childbearing. Therefore, we need to identify and gather resources to make international qualitative childbearing research programs possible and to increase publications within the field.
High priorities for the network are research mobility, research education and supervision in qualitative research by organizing research seminars, workshops, research courses and conferences open for early stage, postdoctoral, and experienced researchers.
Activities
Research interests
The network promotes the usage of qualitative research findings for the development of an evidence and life-world based care as well as health and social care policies that benefit the childbearing families.

Our research interests include:
- Women’s and men’s reproductive health, illness and suffering as lived experiences
- Promoting new parenthood and parental education from parent and caregiver perspectives
- Antenatal, birth and postpartum care and identification of caring needs, wishes and experiences
- Care of the newborn and small child
- Health information in childbearing
- Childbearing professions and organizational cultures
- Meta-questions in qualitative childbearing research
Research seminar 2024
The Childbearing – Qualitative research network (BfiN) research seminar and workshop on childbearing is postponed from September to March 12-13, 2024 at the University of South-Eastern Norway.

The 17th international seminar and research workshop will be held at the University of South-Eastern Norway. The seminar is open to researchers and doctoral candidates.
Keynote speakers:
- Mental ill health or/and substance use during pregnancy -implications for early interventions, Dr. Minna Sorsa, Postdoctoral researcher, Tampere University/ Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland
- The Significance of Empathy within Phenomenological Research Processes, Dr. Idun Røseth, Senior Researcher, Telemark Hospital Trust, Department of child and adolescent mental health, Norway
- A dialogue on the use of qualitative metasynthesis and metaethnography in childbearing research, Prof. Terese Bondas & Prof. Bente Dahl, University of Stavanger, University of South-Eastern Norway
Registration
Seminar participation is free of charge. Deadline for registration is January 15th.
Please send an e-mail confirming your participation to Professor Bente Dahl: bente.dahl@usn.no
Contact information
For further information, please contact:
- Prof. Terese Bondas, University of Stavanger. terese.e.bondas@uis.no
- Prof. Bente Dahl, University of South-Eastern Norway: bente.dahl@usn.no
Collaborators include University of Stavanger, University of South-Eastern Norway (Centre for Women’s, Family and Child Health), University of A Coruna (Grincar), Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Telemark Hospital Trust (Psykisk Helse).
Research seminar 2022
Childbearing – Qualitative research network (BfiN) hosted a research seminar and workshop on childbearing September 26-17, 2022 at University of A Coruña, Spain.

The 16th international seminar and research workshop was held at the Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry at University of A Coruña.
Participation: First come, first served, priority for childbearing network members (BfiN and WoMBH-net).
Parents' and professionals' perspectives in childbearing and neonatal care - promoting health in a collaborative and intercultural scenery were the subjects of this seminar.
Find the proceedings of the 16th international research seminar and workshop 2022 here.
Keynote speakers
- Liv Fegran, Professor University of Agder, Norway
- Bente Dahl, Associate Professor University of South Eastern Norway
Collaboration partners
The research seminar and workshop is organized by Childbearing – the qualitative research network (BfiN) and the Network for Women’s Health in Childbearing, with the focus on Migrants and Minorities, WoMBH-net. It is a collaboration between the Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Stavanger, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), University of Agder, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland and the research group GRINCAR-LICcs at University of A Coruña, Spain.
Contact
For further information, please contact:
- Terese Bondas, University of Stavanger
- Maria Jesus Movilla, University of A Coruña
Contact
Department of Public Health
Membership
Researchers, doctoral students and master students in the field of qualitative research in childbearing may apply for membership (free of charge).