Dr Aimee Grant

Associate Professor

Public Health

+44 (0) 1792 295558

aimee.grant@swansea.ac.uk

Basic Welsh Speaker

Office - 323
Third Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7205-5869

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

About

I am an Associate Professor in public health and Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow. My fellowship project, Autism: from menstruation to menopause, uses participatory research with the Autistic community to better understand reproductive health.

I am #ActuallyAutistic, Disabled and a wheelchair user. I come from a working class background and worked as a carer and auxiliary nurse prior to undertaking my undergraduate degree as a mature student. These experiences leave me with a strong desire to promote social justice and to challenge inequality within my research and teaching.

I aim to improve the health of (i) people in the perinatal period, particularly in relation to infant feeding, and (ii) Autistic people. I have published widely on these topics, regularly blog for The Conversation, and I wrote The Autism Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and the Fourth Trimester, which will be published in October 2025. I have won awards for the inclusivity of my research and its impact.

Methodologically I am interested in the way in which qualitative research methods are used, and how they can be advanced. I have written two books in relation to documentary analysis, Doing Excellent Social Research with Documents (Routledge, 2019; Chapter 8 is available for free ) and Doing Your Research Project with Documents: A Step-by-step guide to take you from start to finish (Policy Press, 2022), and have edited a third with Helen Kara, Using Documents In Research, to be publishedby Policy Press in January 2026.

Areas Of Expertise

Marginalisation & stigma
Autistic lived experiences
Inequalities
Reproductive health
Infant feeding
Qualitative research methods
Documentary analysis
Developing & evaluating interventions

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Outside of academia, I have prepared and delivered bespoke training to the NHS and other organisations.

PhD completions:

Dr Holly Morse (awarded 2023) - Facebook, mothers and midwives: the role of social media in improving breastfeeding support services

Dr Lyndsey Hookway (awarded 2023) - What are the needs and challenges of breastfed medically complex infants and children in the paediatric setting?

Current PhD students:

Social work and Autistic mothers (first supervisor)

Improving maternity care for Autistic birthing people

I am available to supervise PhD students who focus on infant feeding and Autism in adults. I offer expertise in participant-centric and qualitative research methods.

Research Award Highlights Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Abnett, H., Williams, K., Holloway, W., & Grant, A. (2025). Expert organisations with "challenging" and "complex" service users: Representation in English and Welsh autism charity reports and accounts. PLOS One, 20(10), e0335132
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335132, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70823
Williams, G., Ellis, D., Holloway, W., Caemawr, S., CRAINE, M., Williams, K., & Grant, A. (2025). ‘Building our own house’ as an insider-only Community-Partnered Participatory Research Council: Co-creating a safe space for Autistic knowledge production. Autism, 29(9), 2205-2215.
https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241253014, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66078
Grant, A., Axbey, H., Holloway, W., Caemawr, S., Craine, M., Lim, H., Shaw, S., & Ellis, D. (2025). Autism and the Menopause Transition: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. Autism in Adulthood, Ahead of Print
https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251369452, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70624
Ellis, D., Williams, G., Caemawr, S., CRAINE, M., Holloway, W., Williams, K., Shaw, S., & Grant, A. (2025). Menstruation and Autism: A Qualitative Systematic Review. Autism in Adulthood, 0
https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0307, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69327
Grant, A., Griffiths, C., Williams, K., & Brown, A. (2025). “I Just Gritted My Teeth to Get Through It All”: An Online Survey of Autistic People’s Experiences of Maternity Care in the United Kingdom. Autism in Adulthood, 0
https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0275, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68895
Grant, A., Griffiths, C., Williams, K., & Brown, A. (2025). “I felt belittled and ridiculed for being in pain”: An online survey of Autistic people's experience of care for pregnancy loss (perinatal loss) in the United Kingdom✰. Midwifery, 141, 104266
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2024.104266, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68563
Morse, H., Brown, A., & Grant, A. (2025). “Running on goodwill and fairydust” – Midwives' experiences of facilitating and delivering local breastfeeding support via Facebook groups: A qualitative descriptive study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 38(1), e13367
https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13367, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65795
Jones, S., Cooper, J., Dolling, A., McNamara, T., Dvorak, S., Sibson, V., Brown, A., Yhnell, E., Buchanan, P., Breward, S., Ellis, D., & Grant, A. (2025). The Feasibility and Acceptability of a Community Science Approach to Explore Infant Formula Preparation Safety in the Home. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 10(1)
https://doi.org/10.5334/cstp.692, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68462
Grant, A., Williams, G., Axbey, H., Wilkins, A., Firth, E., Lim, H., Cave, H., Williams, K., Ribbons, K., Sinfield, M., Craine, M., Caemawr, S., Holloway, W., Brown, A., Nicolaidis, C., Kara, H., & Ellis, D. (2024). Participatory longitudinal qualitative interview study to understand Autistic gynaecological and obstetric health: the Autism from menstruation to menopause study protocol. BMJ Open, 14(12), e088343
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088343, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68324
Grant, A., Turner, S., Shaw, S., Williams, K., Morgan, H., Ellis, D., & Brown, A. (2024). “I am afraid of being treated badly if I show it”: A cross-sectional study of healthcare accessibility and Autism Health Passports among UK Autistic adults. PLOS ONE, 19(5), e0303873
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303873, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66916
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303873
Grant, A., McNamara, T., Cooper, J., Dvorak, S., Dolling, A., Ellis, D., McIntyre, C., Jones, S., & Brown, A. (2024). Analysing Data With Members of a Stigmatised Community: Experiences, Reflections and Recommendations for Best Practice From the Finding the Formula Community Analysis Group. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 23
https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241229983, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65498
Grant, A., Griffiths, C., Williams, K., & Brown, A. (2024). “It felt like I had an old fashioned telephone ringing in my breasts”: An online survey of UK Autistic birthing parents' experiences of infant feeding. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 20(1)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13581, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65431
Grant, A., Jones, S., Sibson, V., Ellis, D., Dolling, A., McNamara, T., Cooper, J., Dvorak, S., Breward, S., Buchanan, P., Yhnell, E., & Brown, A. (2024). The safety of at home powdered infant formula preparation: A community science project. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 20(1)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13567, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63444
Ellis, D., Williams, K., Brown, A., Healer, E., & Grant, A. (2023). A realist review of health passports for Autistic adults. PLOS ONE, 18(9), e0279214
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279214, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64505
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279214
Grant, A. (2023). Miscarriage and Curtains: A phenomenological autoethnography of curtains, privacy, and loss in an Early Pregnancy Unit in the UK. Geoforum, 143(July 2023), 103786
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2023.103786, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63555
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2023.103786
Turner, S., Brockway, M., Azad, M., Grant, A., Tomfohr-Madsen, L., & Brown, A. (2023). Breastfeeding in the pandemic: A qualitative analysis of breastfeeding experiences among mothers from Canada and the United Kingdom. Women and Birth, 36(4), e388-e396.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2023.01.002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62724
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2023.01.002
HOOKWAY, L., Brown, A., & Grant, A. (2023). Breastfeeding sick children in hospital: Exploring the experiences of mothers in UK paediatric wards. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 19(2)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13489, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62725
Williams, D., Pell, B., Grant, A., Sanders, J., Taylor, A., Edwards, A., Choy, E., & Phillips, R. (2022). Identities of women who have an autoimmune rheumatic disease [ARD] during pregnancy planning, pregnancy and early parenting: A qualitative study. PLOS ONE, 17(11), e0263910
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263910, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62104
Grant, A., Pell, B., Copeland, L., Brown, A., Ellis, D., Morris, D., Williams, D., & Phillips, R. (2022). Views and experience of breastfeeding in public: A qualitative systematic review. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 18(4)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13407, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60442
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13407
Grant, A., Jones, S., Williams, K., Leigh, J., & Brown, A. (2022). Autistic women’s views and experiences of infant feeding: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. Autism, 26(6), 1341-1352.
https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221089374, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59898
Critchley, A., Grant, A., Brown, A., & Morriss, L. (2022). Breastfeeding, social work and the rights of infants who have been removed. Qualitative Social Work, 21(1), 3-14.
https://doi.org/10.1177/14733250211069410, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59512
Allen, D., Lloyd, A., Edwards, D., Grant, A., Hood, K., Huang, C., Hughes, J., Jacob, N., Lacy, D., Moriarty, Y., Oliver, A., Preston, J., Sefton, G., Skone, R., Strange, H., Taiyari, K., Thomas-Jones, E., Trubey, R., Tume, L...., & Roland, D. (2022). Development, implementation and evaluation of an early warning system improvement programme for children in hospital: the PUMA mixed-methods study. Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 10(1), 1-308.
https://doi.org/10.3310/chck4556, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59455
Grant, A. & Kara, H. (2021). Considering the Autistic advantage in qualitative research: the strengths of Autistic researchers. Contemporary Social Science, 16(5), 589-603.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21582041.2021.1998589, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59008
Grant, A. (2021). Breasts and the city: an urban ethnography of infant feeding in public spaces within Cardiff, United Kingdom. International Breastfeeding Journal, 16(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-021-00384-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56516
Dowling, S. & Grant, A. (2021). An ‘incredible community’ or ‘disgusting’ and ‘weird’? Representations of breastmilk sharing in worldwide news media. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 17(3)
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13139, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56515
Grant, A., Morgan, M., Gallagher, D., & Mannay, D. (2020). Smoking during pregnancy, stigma and secrets: Visual methods exploration in the UK. Women and Birth, 33(1), 70-76.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.11.012, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56521
Pell, B., Williams, D., Phillips, R., Sanders, J., Edwards, A., Choy, E., & Grant, A. (2020). Using Visual Timelines in Telephone Interviews: Reflections and Lessons Learned From the Star Family Study. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 160940692091367
https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920913675, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56517
Williams, D., Webber, J., Pell, B., Grant, A., Sanders, J., Choy, E., Edwards, A., Taylor, A., Wu, M., & Phillips, R. (2019). “Nobody knows, or seems to know how rheumatology and breastfeeding works”: Women's experiences of breastfeeding whilst managing a long-term limiting condition – A qualitative visual methods study. Midwifery, 78, 91-96.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2019.08.002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56519
Phillips, R., Williams, D., Bowen, D., Morris, D., Grant, A., Pell, B., Sanders, J., Taylor, A., Choy, E., & Edwards, A. (2019). Reaching a consensus on research priorities for supporting women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases during pre-conception, pregnancy and early parenting: A Nominal Group Technique exercise with lay and professional stakeholders. Wellcome Open Research, 3, 75
https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14658.1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56524
Copeland, L., Merrett, L., McQuire, C., Grant, A., Gobat, N., Tedstone, S., Playle, R., Channon, S., Sanders, J., Phillips, R., Hunter, B., Brown, A., Fitzsimmons, D., Robling, M., & Paranjothy, S. (2019). Feasibility and acceptability of a motivational interviewing breastfeeding peer support intervention. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 15(2), e12703
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12703, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa44741
Grant, A., Morgan, M., Mannay, D., & Gallagher, D. (2019). Understanding health behaviour in pregnancy and infant feeding intentions in low-income women from the UK through qualitative visual methods and application to the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour) model. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2156-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56518
Mannay, D., Creaghan, J., Gallagher, D., Marzella, R., Mason, S., Morgan, M., & Grant, A. (2018). Negotiating Closed Doors and Constraining Deadlines: The Potential of Visual Ethnography to Effectually Explore Private and Public Spaces of Motherhood and Parenting. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 47(6), 758-781.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0891241617744858, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56526
Grant, A., Mannay, D., & Marzella, R. (2018). ‘People try and police your behaviour’: the impact of surveillance on mothers and grandmothers’ perceptions and experiences of infant feeding. Families, Relationships and Societies, 7(3), 431-447.
https://doi.org/10.1332/204674317x14888886530223, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56868
Phillips, R., Pell, B., Grant, A., Bowen, D., Sanders, J., Taylor, A., Edwards, A., Choy, E., & Williams, D. (2018). Identifying the unmet information and support needs of women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases during pregnancy planning, pregnancy and early parenting: mixed-methods study. BMC Rheumatology, 2(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-018-0029-4, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56523
Thomas-Jones, E., Lloyd, A., Roland, D., Sefton, G., Tume, L., Hood, K., Huang, C., Edwards, D., Oliver, A., Skone, R., Lacy, D., Sinha, I., Preston, J., Mason, B., Jacob, N., Trubey, R., Strange, H., Moriarty, Y., Grant, A...., & Powell, C. (2018). A prospective, mixed-methods, before and after study to identify the evidence base for the core components of an effective Paediatric Early Warning System and the development of an implementation package containing those core recommendations for use in the UK: Paediatric early warning system – utilisation and mortality avoidance– the PUMA study protocol. BMC Pediatrics, 18(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1210-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56522
Phillips, R., Copeland, L., Grant, A., Sanders, J., Gobat, N., Tedstone, S., Stanton, H., Merrett, L., Rollnick, S., Robling, M., Brown, A., Hunter, B., Fitzsimmons, D., Regan, S., Trickey, H., & Paranjothy, S. (2018). Development of a novel motivational interviewing (MI) informed peer-support intervention to support mothers to breastfeed for longer. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1725-1, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa39523
Grant, A., McEwan, K., Tedstone, S., Greene, G., Copeland, L., Hunter, B., Sanders, J., Phillips, R., Brown, A., Robling, M., & Paranjothy, S. (2018). Availability of breastfeeding peer support in the United Kingdom: A cross-sectional study. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 14(1), e12476
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12476, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34583
Trickey, H., Thomson, G., Grant, A., Sanders, J., Mann, M., Murphy, S., & Paranjothy, S. (2018). A realist review of one-to-one breastfeeding peer support experiments conducted in developed country settings. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 14(1), e12559
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12559, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56525
http://orca.cf.ac.uk/107471/
Paranjothy, S., Copeland, L., Merrett, L., Grant, A., Phillips, R., Gobat, N., Sanders, J., Fitzsimmons, D., Hunter, B., Regan, S., Playle, R., Brown, A., Tedstone, S., Trickey, H., & Robling, M. (2017). A novel peer-support intervention using motivational interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study. Health Technology Assessment, 21(77), 1-138.
https://doi.org/10.3310/hta21770, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa37956
Grant, A. (2017). “I Don’t Want You Sitting Next to Me”. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 160940691771239
https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917712394, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56527
Grant, A. & Hoyle, L. (2017). Print media representations of UK Accident and Emergency treatment targets: Winter 2014-2015. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(23-24), 4425-4435.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13772, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56529
White, J., Hawkins, J., Madden, K., Grant, A., Er, V., Angel, L., Pickles, T., Kelson, M., Fletcher, A., Murphy, S., Midgley, L., Eccles, G., Cox, G., Hollingworth, W., Campbell, R., Hickman, M., Bonell, C., & Moore, L. (2017). Adapting the ASSIST model of informal peer-led intervention delivery to the Talk to FRANK drug prevention programme in UK secondary schools (ASSIST + FRANK): intervention development, refinement and a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial. Public Health Research, 5(7), 1-98.
https://doi.org/10.3310/phr05070, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56528
Hawkins, J., Madden, K., Fletcher, A., Midgley, L., Grant, A., Cox, G., Moore, L., Campbell, R., Murphy, S., Bonell, C., & White, J. (2017). Development of a framework for the co-production and prototyping of public health interventions. BMC Public Health, 17(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4695-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56869
Moulsdale, P., Grant, A., Fletcher, M., & Finn, A. (2017). Parents’ perceptions of influenza and why they accept or decline the nasal vaccine for their child. Nursing Children and Young People, 29(3), 28-33.
https://doi.org/10.7748/ncyp.2017.e854, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56871
Grant, A. & O'Mahoney, H. (2016). Portrayal of waterpipe (shisha, hookah, nargile) smoking on Twitter: a qualitative exploration. Public Health, 140, 128-135.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2016.07.007, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56530
http://orca.cf.ac.uk/93188/
Grant, A. (2016). “I…don’t want to see you flashing your bits around”: Exhibitionism, othering and good motherhood in perceptions of public breastfeeding. Geoforum, 71, 52-61.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2016.03.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56872
Grant, A. (2016). “#discrimination”: The Online Response to a Case of a Breastfeeding Mother Being Ejected from a UK Retail Premises. Journal of Human Lactation, 32(1), 141-151.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334415592403, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56534
Jawad, M., Choaie, E., Brose, L., Dogar, O., Grant, A., Jenkinson, E., McEwen, A., Millett, C., & Shahab, L. (2016). Waterpipe Tobacco Use in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Sectional Study among University Students and Stop Smoking Practitioners. PLOS ONE, 11(1), e0146799
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146799, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56531
Hoyle, L. & Grant, A. (2015). Treatment targets in emergency departments: nurses’ views of how they affect clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(15-16), 2211-2218.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12835, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56532
Jawad, M., Bakir, A., Ali, M., & Grant, A. (2015). Impact of Waterpipe Tobacco Pack Health Warnings on Waterpipe Smoking Attitudes: A Qualitative Analysis among Regular Users in London. BioMed Research International, 2015, 1-6.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/745865, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56535
Grant, A., Ashton, K., & Phillips, R. (2015). Foucault, Surveillance, and Carbon Monoxide Testing Within Stop-Smoking Services. Qualitative Health Research, 25(7), 912-922.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732314553992, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56533
Bennett, L., Grant, A., Jones, S., Bowley, M., Heathcote-Elliott, C., Ford, C., Jones, A., Lewis, R., Munkley, M., Owen, C., Petherick, A., & Paranjothy, S. (2014). Models for Access to Maternal Smoking cessation Support (MAMSS): a study protocol of a quasi-experiment to increase the engagement of pregnant women who smoke in NHS Stop Smoking Services. BMC Public Health, 14(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1041, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56537
Grant, A., Morrison, R., & Dockrell, M. (2014). Prevalence of Waterpipe (Shisha, Narghille, Hookah) Use Among Adults in Great Britain and Factors Associated With Waterpipe Use: Data From Cross-sectional Online Surveys in 2012 and 2013. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 16(7), 931-938.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu015, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56536
Grant, A. (2013). The Effect of the Use of Discretion on Occupational Therapists' Professional Identity. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(9), 409-417.
https://doi.org/10.4276/030802213x13782044946300, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56538
http://orca.cf.ac.uk/89245/
Grant, A. (2013). Welfare reform, increased conditionality and discretion: jobcentre Plus advisers' experiences of targets and sanctions. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 21(2), 165-176.
https://doi.org/10.1332/175982713x668935, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56539
Grant, A. (2012). Barriers to Work for Incapacity Benefit Claimants in Wales. Contemporary Wales, 25(1), 173-190.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56540
https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/uwp/cowa/2012/00000025/00000001/art00012
Grant, A. (2011). Fear, Confusion and Participation: Incapacity Benefit claimants and (compulsory) Work Focused Interviews. Research, Policy and Planning, 28(3), 161-171.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56541
http://ssrg.org.uk/research-policy-and-planning-volume-28/
Grant, A. (n.d.) “A lovely safe umbrella to describe yourself with” or “meaningless”: an online survey of UK-based Neurodivergent adults’ views of neurodiversity-related terminology. Neurodiversity
https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330251390590, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70619

Authored Books

Grant, A. (2022). Doing Your Research Project with Documents: A Step-by-step Guide to Take You from Start to Finish Bristol University Press.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56874
https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/doing-your-research-project-with-documents
Grant, A. & Grant, A. (2018). Doing Excellent Social Research with Documents: Practical Examples and Guidance for Qualitative Researchers (1st ed.). Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315177274, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56875
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315177274/excellent-social-research-documents-aimee-grant

Book Chapters

Williams, G., Ellis, D., Axbey, H., & Grant, A. (2025). Chapter 26: Autistic, Hysteric: Inequity in Health Care for Autistic People Assigned Female at Birth in the United Kingdom. The Double Empathy Reader Pavilion Publishing and Media Ltd
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69667
https://pavpub.com/health-and-social-care/health-autism/the-double-empathy-reader?srsltid=AfmBOoqlkYQ6_iZUUet8y-wanlKBwl6vp0k4oPiaJqnhna3HzM-OaPVO
Grant, A., Williams, K., Henry, K., Holloway, W., Nicolaidis, C., Kara, H., & Brown, A. (2024). Co-developing an Autism Research Funding Application to Facilitate Ethical and Participatory Research: The Autism from Menstruation to Menopause Project. The Palgrave Handbook of Research Methods and Ethics in Neurodiversity Studies (pp. 61-79). Springer Nature Switzerland
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66127-3_4, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67936
Grant, A., Williams, G., Williams, K., & Woods, R. (2023). Unmet need, epistemic injustice and early death: how social policy for Autistic adults in England and Wales fails to slay Beveridge’s Five Giants. In Ruggero Cefalo, Marcia Rose and Andy Jolly (Ed.), Social Policy Review 35: Analysis and Debate in Social Policy, 2023 (pp. 239-257). Policy Press
https://doi.org/10.47674/9781447369219, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63757
https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/63401
Grant, A. (2020). Documents as data: burrowing into the heart of educational institutions. In Michael R.M. Ward and Sara Delamont (Ed.), Handbook of Qualitative Research in Education (pp. 299-308). Edward Elgar Publishing
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788977159.00036, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56938
Mannay, D., Creaghan, J., Gallagher, D., Mason, S., Morgan, M., & Grant, A. (2018). “Watching What I’m Doing, Watching How I’m doing It”: Exploring the Everyday Experiences of Surveillance and Silenced Voices Among Marginalized Mothers in Welsh Low-Income Locales. Marginalized Mothers, Mothering from the Margins (pp. 25-40). Emerald Publishing Limited
https://doi.org/10.1108/s1529-212620180000025002, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56940
Grant, A. (2018). Participant-created documents as an elicitation tool: Things we might not have otherwise been told. Doing Excellent Social Research with Documents: Practical Examples and Guidance for Qualitative Researchers Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56520
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-mono/10.4324/9781315177274-8/participant-created-documents-elicitation-tool-aimee-grant?context=ubx&refId=2976599f-b65d-4837-a20a-b7e7a3316cc5
Grant, A. (2018). Chapter 9: Shock and Offence Online: The Role of Emotion in Participant Absent Research. Studies in Qualitative Methodology (pp. 143-158). Emerald Publishing Limited
https://doi.org/10.1108/s1042-319220180000016010, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56939

Conference Contributions

Jones, S., Ellis, D., Dvorak, S., Dolling, A., McNamara, T., Cooper, J., Bradford, D., Brown, A., Sibson, V., Yhnell, E., Breward, S., Buchanan, P., & Grant, A. (2023). Finding the Formula. Using community science to explore the real-world experiences of formula preparation. In Maternity and Midwifery Festival. Wales and South West 2023
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64622
Jones, S., Ellis, D., Dvorak, S., Dolling, A., McNamara, T., Cooper, J., Bradford, D., Brown, A., Sibson, V., Yhnell, E., Breward, S., Buchanan, P., & Grant, A. (2023). Finding the Formula. Using community science to explore the real-world experiences of formula preparation. In MAINN, UCLAN conference
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64621

Other Research Outputs

Brown, A., Jones, S., Grant, A., Coffey, M., & Mayers, A. (2021). An evaluation of the Peppy Baby Programme in Manchester University Foundation Trust.
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58909
https://www.england.nhs.uk/north-west/wp-content/uploads/sites/48/2021/10/Executive-Summary-An-Evaluation-of-the-Peppy-Baby-Programme-in-Manchester-University-Foundation-Trust.pdf
Botha, M., Grant, A., Milton, D., Memmott, A., Williams, G., Pearson, A., & Woods, R. (2021). Sonic bombardment, noise hypersensitivity and ethics: A response to Fodstad and colleagues: ‘Assessment and treatment of noise hypersensitivity in a teenager with autism Spectrum Disorder’
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63301
https://participatoryautismresearch.wordpress.com/2021/10/27/sonic-bombardment-noise-hypersensitivity-and-ethics-a-response-to-fodstad-and-colleagues/

Supervision

Empowered advocates or punished victims: the perplexing relationship between autistic mothers and children's social work in the UK. (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Wahida Kent

Taught Modules

SHM248 Additional Care for Women with Complex Needs

This module will prepare students to identify and manage the care of women with additional care needs including management of both pre-existing and emergent conditions. The module will explore the evidence base to equip students to use current statistical data to inform their practice. Students will also further develop their understanding that the care needs of women and families may relate to physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual factors.

Key Grants and Projects

Autism from menstruation to menopause: Participatory community led qualitative longitudinal research to understand Autistic reproductive experiences throughout the life course and improve healthcare services 2022 - 2030

Wellcome Trust Career Development Award, with Grant, A. and Brown, A. , £2.4 million
Improving UK breastfeeding duration: a salutogenic realist evaluation of English regional success to co-develop a community-based breastfeeding support intervention 2022 - 2023

Medical Research Council, with Grant, A. et al., £140,000
Autism healthcare passports for maternity services: a literature review and qualitative survey. 2021

Healthcare Technology Centre, with Brown, A. Healer, E., Jones, S and Williams, K. , £10,000
Finding the right formula: Establishing the feasibility of doing science in the home to assess the safety of Powdered Infant Formula preparation 2021 - 2022

ESRC/BBSRC, with Yhnell, E., Brown, A, Jones, S. and Sibson, V, £32,000
Qualitative systematic review of Autistic Women’s experiences of breastfeeding in public 2021

Research Wales Innovation Fund, £5,000
Understanding barriers to public breastfeeding: a socio-ecological understanding of infant feeding within public space using participatory visual and ethnographic methods to facilitate future intervention development. 2017 - 2019

Wellcome Trust ISSF Fellowship, with Robling, M. , £93,000
Contextualising deprived women’s risky health behaviours within pregnancy: a qualitative longitudinal study using visual methods to inform future intervention codevelopment. 2016 - 2017

Wellcome Trust ISSF Public Health Award, with Mannay, D. and Paranjothy, S. , £19,000
An independent evaluation of The Filter youth smoking prevention and cessation service. 2014 - 2015

ASH Wales, with Hurt, L. , £18,000
Understanding the portrayal of waterpipe (shisha, hookah, narghile, hubble bubble) smoking on social media. 2014

T. Maelgwyn Davies Bequest Fund, £2,000
Inter-generational views and experiences of breastfeeding in deprived areas. 2014

Children and Young Persons Research Network, with Mannay, D. , £1,000
The feasibility and acceptability of a planned pre-pregnancy weight loss intervention: the Plan-it study. 2018 - 2020

National Institute for Health Research HTA, with Channon, S et al. , £282,000
Exploring Pathways to Work for Incapacity Benefit Claimants. 2006 - 2010

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 Quota award: PhD funding: payment of fees, stipend, internship with Scottish Government and research expenses, with Drakeford, M. and Williams, G. , £60,000
A novel peer-support intervention using Motivational Interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study 2014 - 2016

NIHR Health Technology Assessment, with Paranjothy, S. et al. , £293,000
Adapting and piloting the ASSIST model of informal peer-led intervention delivery to the Talk to Frank drug prevention programme in UK secondary schools (ASSIST Frank): an exploratory trial. 2013 - 2016

NIHR Public Health Research Programme, with White, J. et al. , £606,000
Borrowed Truths: Exploring transfers of expertise and evidence across science, justice and politics. 2015 - 2016

Welsh Crucible Small Grants Scheme, with Bliesemann de Guevara, B, et al. , £7,000
Young Parents and the Media: Exploring Visual Representations and their Everyday Impacts. 2015

Cardiff University Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP). , with Mannay, D., £2,000
Negotiating Young Parenthood: A study exploring the ways in which mediated stereotypes of teenage parents impact on their perceptions of their parenting practices; and their engagement with service providers. 0

WISERD/ Economic and Social Researcher Council (ESRC), with Mannay, D, £3,000

Public Engagements

Written public engagement

Bird, H. and Grant, A. (2022). “Breaking barriers: supporting Autistic people”. Midwives magazine. (available on request)

Grant, A. (2022). Formula feeding does NOT cause Autism. Autistic UK blog.

Grant, A. (2022). How midwives can better support Autistic people. Maternity and Midwifery Forum.

Grant, A. (2022). What does workplace coaching for Autistic people look like? Employment Autism Blog.

Grant, A. and Brown, A. (2022). What should you do if you see a baby eating in public? Breastfeeding Network Blog.

Grant, A. (2022). Six ways health professionals and peer supporters can help Autistic women meet their breastfeeding goals. Breastfeeding Network News.

Grant, A. (2022). Q&A: Autistic mothers experience ‘exacerbated’ breastfeeding challenges. Healio.

Grant, A. and Williams, K. (2022). Autistic Mothers’ experiences of breast- and formula- feeding babies: what does the evidence say? Autistic UK blog.

Grant, A. (2022). Documentary analysis: the research method that can level the playing field. Transforming Society.

Grant, A. and Kara, H. (2022). Autistic researchers inside and outside of academia. Employment Autism Blog.

Kara, H and Grant, A (2021) Neurodiversity in academia: the autistic advantage in qualitative research. Impact of Social Sciences Blog.

Public Engagements

Grant, A. (2018). Breastfeeding outside of the home – a moral challenge for mothers! Public Health Network Cymru.

Grant, A. (2018). How to make public spaces more breastfeeding friendly using evidence from developed countries. Breastfeeding Network blog. July 20^th 2018. Available here

Grant, A. (2017). Breastfeeding peer support: what’s available on the ground and where are the gaps? NCT Perspectives: 37 (December 2017): 40-43. Available here.

Grant, A. (2017). Mothers are subject to a postcode lottery for breastfeeding support NIHR blog. 4.8.17.

Grant, A. (2017). Mothers are subject to a postcode lottery for breastfeeding support. The Conversation. 7.7.17 Available here.

Grant, A. and Overton, L. (2017). Pregnant women and new mothers feel like their health is ‘under surveillance’. Health and Care Research Wales @Research Wales Magazine: 2: 16-17. May 2017. Available here.

Grant, A. (2017). Vegan restaurant ban on cows’ milk formula is another way to stigmatise mothers. 10.4.17. Available here.

Grant, A. (2017). 26 years ago the UK signed up to formula milk advertising rules – so why isn’t it law yet? 22.3.17. Available here.

Grant, A. (2017). Pregnant women and new mothers feel like their health is ‘under surveillance’ 20.3.17. Available here.

Public Engagements

Radio interviews

Breastfeeding in public: 2.8.22: BBC Wales Today (TV); BBC Radio Wales; Thats TV; Heart & Capital Radio

Autistic women and infant feeding: 12.4.22: Heart & Capital Radio, Nation Radio, Thats TV.; 8.6.22: BBC Wales News (TV); BBC Radio Wales

Surveillance of smoking and alcohol in pregnancy: 12.2.19: Heart Radio, Radio News Hub.

Support for new mothers: 13.9.18: BBC Radio Kent

Cuts to breastfeeding support services 1.11.17: BBC Radio Kent

Surveillance of parenting 20.03.17: BBC World Service, 5 Live, Radio Scotland, Radio Wales, News Talk Dublin

Public, policy and practitioner events

“There’s so many judgey people out there you know”: Social barriers to breastfeeding in Wales Welsh Assembly lunch time briefing sponsored by Jenny Rathbone AM 22.11.17.

Mothers and grandmothers’ experiences of infant feeding: reflections on an increase in ‘rude’ comments between generations. PUBlic Uni 16. 26.5.17.

Invited panel member. Tinted Lens screening of “Prevenge”. Chapter Arts Centre, 13.2.17.

Seminar organiser (joint with CASCADE): Health and Wellbeing in Pregnancy. Cardiff Story, 17.1.17

Public Engagements

Press coverage of research findings

Breastfeeding in public: 2.8.22: BBC ; 9.8.22 Wales Online

Autistic women and infant feeding: 30.6.22: The Informed SLP; 8.6.22: BBC; 7.6.22: Wales online. 4.10.22: New York Times.

Surveillance of smoking and drinking alcohol in pregnancy:

2.19 BBC online; Independent; The Sun; Huff Post; ITV.com
2.19: Index HR (Croatia)

Survey of community breastfeeding support:

7.7.17 The Guardian.

Surveillance of pregnant women and infant feeding:

20/21.3.17 Victoria Derbyshire programme (BBC 2), The Daily Telegraph, the I, Daily Mail South Wales Echo, The Sun, Western Mail, The Scotsman, BBC Online, ITV.com, Express

July 2018 Psychologie Magazine (Dutch)

Dr Aimee Grant

Telephone number

Email address

Welsh language proficiency

Youtube Account

Facebook Account

Bluesky Account

LinkedIn Account

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Research Highlights

All Research

Empowered advocates or punished victims: the perplexing relationship between autistic mothers and children's social work in the UK. (current)

SHM248 Additional Care for Women with Complex Needs

Autism from menstruation to menopause: Participatory community led qualitative longitudinal research to understand Autistic reproductive experiences throughout the life course and improve healthcare services 2022 - 2030

Improving UK breastfeeding duration: a salutogenic realist evaluation of English regional success to co-develop a community-based breastfeeding support intervention 2022 - 2023

Autism healthcare passports for maternity services: a literature review and qualitative survey. 2021

Finding the right formula: Establishing the feasibility of doing science in the home to assess the safety of Powdered Infant Formula preparation 2021 - 2022

Qualitative systematic review of Autistic Women’s experiences of breastfeeding in public 2021

Understanding barriers to public breastfeeding: a socio-ecological understanding of infant feeding within public space using participatory visual and ethnographic methods to facilitate future intervention development. 2017 - 2019

Contextualising deprived women’s risky health behaviours within pregnancy: a qualitative longitudinal study using visual methods to inform future intervention codevelopment. 2016 - 2017

An independent evaluation of The Filter youth smoking prevention and cessation service. 2014 - 2015

Understanding the portrayal of waterpipe (shisha, hookah, narghile, hubble bubble) smoking on social media. 2014

Inter-generational views and experiences of breastfeeding in deprived areas. 2014

The feasibility and acceptability of a planned pre-pregnancy weight loss intervention: the Plan-it study. 2018 - 2020

Exploring Pathways to Work for Incapacity Benefit Claimants. 2006 - 2010

A novel peer-support intervention using Motivational Interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study 2014 - 2016

Adapting and piloting the ASSIST model of informal peer-led intervention delivery to the Talk to Frank drug prevention programme in UK secondary schools (ASSIST Frank): an exploratory trial. 2013 - 2016

Borrowed Truths: Exploring transfers of expertise and evidence across science, justice and politics. 2015 - 2016

Young Parents and the Media: Exploring Visual Representations and their Everyday Impacts. 2015

Negotiating Young Parenthood: A study exploring the ways in which mediated stereotypes of teenage parents impact on their perceptions of their parenting practices; and their engagement with service providers. 0