Helen Elden

Helen Elden is a Professor of Reproductive and Perinatal Health at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, and serves as Research Leader for the Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health research group. She is also a university hospital chief midwife at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, combining extensive clinical experience with academic leadership.

Education: Helen defended her PhD thesis in 2008 titled "Treatment Modalities for Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnant Women" and has since built a robust academic and clinical career.

Research Interests: Helen's research spans acupuncture for pelvic pain in pregnancy, induction of labor strategies (SWEPIS, OPTION studies), pregnancy and childbirth as political processes (PREGDEM), preeclampsia (GO-PROVE), undocumented pregnant women’s experiences, and obstetric triage systems (GOTS). She leads Sweden’s involvement in the IMAgiNE EURO project, focusing on maternal and newborn care during COVID-19 across 20 European countries.

Publications and Research Impact: Her recent work includes qualitative and cross-sectional studies on maternal care quality, COVID-19’s impact on birth experiences, and health professionals’ perspectives on labor induction and maternal care. Her research is characterized by international collaboration and a focus on patient-reported outcomes.

Scientific Recognition: While no specific awards are listed, her leadership in major RCTs (SWEPIS, OPTION, PREGDEM) and her role in international projects like IMAgiNE EURO underscore her significant scientific contributions.

Advising and Grants: Helen has successfully supervised several doctoral students to completion (e.g., Shouroq Hawamdeh, Anna Wessberg) and is currently advising ongoing PhD students. She has led or co-led multiple national and international projects, including RCTs and cross-country collaborations.

Labs and Teams: She leads the Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health research group and is part of the Complete Academic Environment (CAE) in reproductive and perinatal health at Sahlgrenska Academy.