Dr Bec Jenkinson
Affiliate of Australian Women's and Girls' Health Research Centre
Australian Women and Girls' Health Research Centre
Senior Research Fellow
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Researcher biography
Bec Jenkinson is health consumer advocate-turned-researcher, with more than 10 years' experience as a leader in the Australian health consumer movement, advocating for high quality, respectful, person-centred care. She is also skilled qualitative and mixed methods researcher, writer, presenter and networker with a passion for consumer and community engagement in health services, and broad experience encompassing health policy, service delivery and evaluation, and education. Bec's PhD investigated the experiences of women, midwives and obstetricians when pregnant women decline recommended care. She went on to co-lead the development and implementation of Queensland Health's Guideline: Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care. Now a Senior Research Fellow with UQ's Clinical Trials Capability Team (ULTRA), Bec works collaboratively with researchers, consumers and other stakeholders to enhance consumer and community involvement (CCI) in clinical trial designs and processes. She is particularly interested in the methodologies of research priority setting, and in how CCI can drive health equity in clinical trials.
| Featured projects | Duration |
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) |
Publications
Book Chapter
Jenkinson, Bec and Fox, Deborah (2020). Keeping the canary singing: Maternity care plans and respectful homebirth transfer. Birthing Outside the System: The Canary in the Coal Mine. (pp. 320-343) edited by Hannah Dahlen, Bashi Kumar-Hazard and Virginia Schmied. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429489853-18
Journal Articles
Jenkinson, Bec, McKenzie, Melanie, Limmer, Ayme, Charlton, Valerie, Hardiman, Leah, Lee Ura, Anna, Lawler, Sheleigh, Bonner, Carissa and Doust, Jenny (2025). Doing community involvement care-fully: using an ethic of care to guide involvement in research on women’s health after pregnancy complications and loss. Research Involvement and Engagement, 11 (1) 94. doi: 10.1186/s40900-025-00771-7
Hill, Briony, Hailu, Haimanot, Jenkinson, Bec, Rakic, Siarn, Nagpal, Taniya S., Boyle, Jacqueline A., Sheehan, Penelope, Darlison, Sarah and Skouteris, Helen (2025). Co-design and clinician evaluation of resources to address weight stigma in antenatal care. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25 (1) 263, 263. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07327-3
Khalesi, Helia, Jenkinson, Bec, Kearney, Lauren, Callaway, Leonie and Hill, Briony (2025). Understanding larger-bodied women’s experiences of maternity care: A pilot evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of an online photovoice approach. Midwifery, 148 104534, 104534. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104534
Robins, Anna J, Jenkinson, Bec and Kearney, Lauren (2025). Navigating weight stigma: An integrative review of midwives' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about caring for larger-bodied women. Midwifery, 147 104444, 104444-147. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104444
Ramsay, Jennifer, Riek, Matilda, Jenkinson, Bec, Copp, Tessa, Carlini, Joan and Doust, Jenny (2025). Navigating treatment options: a qualitative study exploring Australian women’s decision-making experiences and satisfaction with treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. BMC Women's Health, 25 (1) 327. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03884-z
Jenkinson, Bec, Riek, Matilda, de Jersey, Susan, Buckley, Lisa, Nabi, Saba, Irvine, Candice, Liu, Sherrie, Mihrshahi, Seema, Baird, Kathleen, Doust, Jenny and Mishra, Gita D (2025). The need for preconception care: Australian women’s health beliefs, expectations, and trust in healthcare. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 44 101092, 101092. doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2025.101092
Jenkinson, Bec, McKenzie, Melanie, Limmer, Ayme, Charlton, Valerie, Hardiman, Leah, Payne, Sam, Ura, Anna Lee, Bonner, Carissa, Lawler, Sheleigh, Middleton, Philippa, Doust, Jenny and Mishra, Gita D. (2025). Beyond bereavement: Women’s healthcare experiences and cardiovascular disease risk in the years after stillbirth and recurrent early pregnancy loss. Women and Birth, 38 (3) 101915, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101915
Jenkinson, Bec, Gray, Lyndel, Sketcher‐Baker, Kirstine and Kimble, Rebecca (2025). Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care: Development of a statewide guideline in Queensland, Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 65 (2), 243-247. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13889
Jenkinson, Bec, Charlton, Valerie, Hardiman, Leah, Limmer, Ayme, Mckenzie, Melanie, Ura, Anna-Lee, Bonner, Carissa, Lawler, Sheleigh, Middleton, Philippa, Mishra, Gita and Doust, Jenny (2025). Women's health and healthcare experiences in the years after gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25 (1) 158, 158. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07296-7
Wilson, Louise, Copp, Tessa, Hickey, Martha, Jenkinson, Bec, Jordan, Susan J., Thompson, Rachel, Mishra, Gita D. and Doust, Jenny A. (2025). Women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding: prevalence and characteristics from young adulthood to midlife, Australia, 2000–2021: a longitudinal cohort survey study. Medical Journal of Australia, 222 (4), 191-197. doi: 10.5694/mja2.52596
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Hurst, Cameron, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2024). Response to the Letter to Editor for “A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives”. Women and Birth, 37 (3) 101599, 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101599
Cole, Roni, Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Kettle, Imogen, Ng, Beng, Callaway, Leonie and Nugent, Rachael (2024). Partnering with consumers and practising clinicians to establish research priorities for public hospital maternity services. Australian Health Review, 48 (3), 321-331. doi: 10.1071/ah23222
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Hurst, Cameron, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2023). A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives. Women and Birth, 37 (1), 159-165. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.08.003
Jenkinson, Bec, Maxwell, Jo, Bell, Alison, Young, Adrienne, Smith, Anthony C., Christoffersen, Anja, Trevor, Dale, Young, Leonie and Russell, Trevor (2023). Bringing researchers to the consumer table: the process and outcomes of a consumer roundtable on telehealth. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 31 (3), 430-436. doi: 10.1177/1357633x231188536
Griffiths, Ahlia, Kingsley, Sara, Mason, Zena, Tome, Renee, Tomkinson, Malyssa and Jenkinson, Bec (2023). Listening to larger bodied women: Time for a new approach to maternity care. Women and Birth, 36 (5), 397-400. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.001
Barnett, Belinda, Jenkinson, Bec and Lee, Nigel (2022). The impact of a perineal care bundle on women’s birth experiences in Queensland, Australia: a qualitative thematic analysis. Women and Birth, 36 (3), 271-280. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.09.002
Cleetus, Maryanne, Lazarou, Mattea, Tooker, Siân, Jenkinson, Bec and Dean, Judith A. (2022). Termination of pregnancy in Queensland post-decriminalisation: a content analysis of client records from an all-options pregnancy counselling organisation. Sexual Health, 19 (6), 491-500. doi: 10.1071/sh22059
Jenkinson, Bec, Kearney, Lauren, Kynn, Mary, Reed, Rachel, Nugent, Rachael, Toohill, Jocelyn and Bogossian, Fiona (2021). Validating a scale to measure respectful maternity care in Australia: challenges and recommendations. Midwifery, 103 103090, 103090. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2021.103090
Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Tracy, Sally K., Hartz, Donna L., Tracy, Mark and Kildea, Sue (2020). Women's unmet needs in early labour: qualitative analysis of free-text survey responses in the M@NGO trial of caseload midwifery. Midwifery, 88 102751, 102751. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2020.102751
Williams, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Allen, Jyai, Morrow, Jane and Kildea, Sue (2019). Does introducing a dedicated early labour area improve birth outcomes? A pre-post intervention study. Women and Birth, 33 (3), 259-264. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.05.001
Jenkinson, Bec, Kruske, Sue and Kildea, Sue (2018). Refusal of recommended maternity care: Time to make a pact with women?. Women and Birth, 31 (6), 433-441. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.03.006
Menke, Sara, Jenkinson, Bec, Foureur, Maralyn and Kildea, Sue (2018). Is the Birthing Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool valid for diverse groups?. Women and Birth, 32 (4), 372-379. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.09.009
Jenkinson, Bec, Kruske, Sue and Kildea, Sue (2017). The experiences of women, midwives and obstetricians when women decline recommended maternity care: a feminist thematic analysis. Midwifery, 52, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2017.05.006
Kruske, Sue, Kildea Sue, Jenkinson, Bec, Pilcher, Jennifer, Robin, Sarah, Rolfe, Margaret, Kornelsen, Jude and Barclay, Lesley (2016). Primary Maternity Units in rural and remote Australia: Results of a national survey. Midwifery, 40, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2016.05.004
Jenkinson, Bec, Kruske, Sue, Stapleton, Helen, Beckmann, Michael, Reynolds, Maree and Kildea, Sue (2016). Women's, midwives' and obstetricians' experiences of a structured process to document refusal of recommended maternity care. Women and Birth, 29 (6), 531-541. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2016.05.005
Jenkinson, Bec, Kruske, Sue, Stapleton, Helen, Beckmann, Michael, Reynolds, Maree and Kildea, Sue (2015). Maternity care plans: a retrospective review of a process aiming to support women who decline standard care. Women and Birth, 28 (4), 303-309. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2015.05.003
Jenkinson, Bec, Young, Kate and Kruske, Sue (2014). Maternity services and the discharge process: a review of practice in Queensland. Women and Birth, 27 (2), 114-120. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2013.12.001
Jenkinson, Bec M., Smethurst, Joanne, Boorman, Rhonda and Creedy, Debra K. (2014). Effect of a maternity consumer representative training program on participants' confidence and engagement. Australian Health Review, 38 (3), 306-311. doi: 10.1071/AH13183
Kruske, Sue, Young, Kate, Jenkinson, Bec and Catchlove, Ann (2013). Maternity care providers' perceptions of women's autonomy and the law. Bmc Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13 (1) 84, 84. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-84
Conference Papers
Khalesi, Helia, Jenkinson, Bec, Kearney, Lauren, Nugent, Rachael, Callaway, Leonie and Hill, Briony (2024). Using online photovoice to understand larger bodied women’s experience in Australian maternity care: A pilot study. ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference 2024, Sydney, NSW Australia, 16-18 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.09.121
Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Hill, Briony, Griffiths, Ahlia and Callaway, Leonie (2024). Larger bodied women's experiences of maternity care: a national photo-voice study [RADIANT Study]. Australian College of Midwives National Conference - Moving Midwifery Forward, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 10 - 12 September 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101767
Jenkinson, Bec, Lawler, Sheleigh, Middleton, Philippa, Bonner, Carissa, Cooke, Eileen, Hardiman, Leah, Limmer, Ayme, Mckenzie, Melanie, Payne, Sam, Ura, Anna-Lee, Charlton, Valerie, Doust, Jenny and Mishra, Gita (2024). Communicating cardiovascular disease risk with women who have a history of pregnancy complications and loss. 12th International Shared Decision Making Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland, 7-10 July 2024. London, United Kingdom: BMJ Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2024-sdc.117
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Rebecca, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2023). First do no harm: a single site pre-post implementation study of a perineal protection bundle. Australian College of Midwives National Conference – Be the Change, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12-14 September 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.007
Morris, Shannon, Adams, Cathy and Jenkinson, Rebecca (2023). Should I have an induction of labour?. Australian College of Midwives National Conference – Be the Change, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-14 September 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.068
Hill, B, Hailu, H, Jenkinson, B, Rakic, S, Nagpal, T, Boyle, J, Sheehan, P and Skouteris, H (2023). Co-designing resources with midwives and consumers to address weight stigma in antenatal care. Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, SA Australia, 18-20 October 2023.
Gray, L, Jenkinson, B. and Kimble, R (2022). Partnering with women who decline recommended maternity care. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Sydney, NSW Australia, 25-26 July 2022.
Jenkinson, B, Christoffersen, A, Trevor, D, Anemaat, L, Bell, A and Maxwell, J (2022). Consumer involvement in health and medical research at the University of Queensland: A panel discussion. Health Consumers Queensland Annual Forum, Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia, 13-14 October 2022.
Gray, L., Jenkinson, B. and Kimble, R. (2018). Partnering with women who decline recommended maternity care. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 11-12 September 2018.
Gray, L., James, C., Jenkinson, B., Burley, K., Kimble, R. and Sketcher-Baker, K. (2018). Woman’s decision pathway in pregnancy, labour, and birth. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 11-12 September 2018.
Jenkinson, B. (2017). Using the master’s tools to dismantle the master’s house: Refusal of recommended maternity care in a tertiary hospital. Passage to Motherhood Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-13 May 2017.
Jenkinson, B. (2017). The benefits of a structured documentation and communication process when pregnant women decline recommended maternity care. Obstetric Malpractice Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 8 August 2017.
Jenkinson, B. (2016). The line in the sand: Feminist perspectives on refusal of recommended maternity care. 8th International Biennial Conference of the Australian Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 13-16 July 2016.
Jenkinson, B. (2016). Supporting women’s autonomy: Lessons from one tertiary hospital. International Normal Labour and Birth Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 10-13 October 2016.
Jenkinson, Bec (2015). When 'no' means 'no': Supporting women's rights to informed consent and refusal. Australian College of the Midwives National 19th Biennial Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 5-8 October 2015. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2015.07.072
Kruske, S, Young, K, Jenkinson, B and Catchlove, A (2013). Maternity care providers’ perceptions of women’s autonomy and the law. Australian Association of Bioethics and Health Law Conference: Pivotal Moments/Future Horizons - Continuity and Change in Australian Bioethics, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 11 - 14 July 2013.
Thesis
Jenkinson, Rebecca (2018). Getting the ‘Comfortable’ to listen: a mixed methods study of refusal of recommended maternity care. PhD Thesis, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.188
Research Report
Jenkinson, Bec, Josey, Natalie and Kruske, Sue (2014). BirthSpace: an evidence-based guide to birth environment design. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies, The University of Queensland.