PURPOSE:
This poster introduces the Intersectional Multi-level Analysis (IMA) by Winker and Degele (2011) as a valuable methodological framework for conducting intersectional research in midwifery. Drawing on an intended empirical study exploring perinatal healthcare experiences of trans and non-binary individuals in Germany, we aim to demonstrate the application and analytical potential of IMA in uncovering complex inequalities within perinatal healthcare. By emphazising the interrelatedness of social structures, symbolic representations, and identity constructions, we argue that IMA has the capacity to provide a more nuanced understanding of lived experiences.

DISCUSSION:
So far perinatal health research often overlooks the simultaneous and interrelated effects of multiple social categories. IMA offers a systematic approach to address this limitation by employing an eight-step analytical process. It combines inductive reconstruction of subjective positionings with deductive analysis of societal conditions. The method is illustrated with an empirical example, which investigates how social norms shape the experiences of trans and non-binary individuals using perinatal healthcare. We demonstrate the proposed methodology's ability to facilitate a systematic, intersectional analysis of individuals' social practices and, consequently, their agency in the context of inequalities within the perinatal healthcare system. Methodological considerations, such as researchers’ reflexivity regarding power dynamics and positionality, are crucial for rigorous application of IMA.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
The introduced methodological framework is informed by intersectional theory. This approach is consistent with the growing call for more nuanced and context-aware methodologies to understand health inequalities, including the perinatal period.

KEY MESSAGE:
Sharing experiences with the application of IMA may contribute to a more profound understanding of complex inequalities within perinatal healthcare. This may lead to the further development of more equitable and inclusive midwifery care practices, aligning with the ICM’s goal of enhancing reproductive health for all. Poster session 4 (Group B)