Hannakaisa Niela-Vilen
Docent, PhD, RM
hmniel@utu.fi Kiinamyllynkatu 10 Turku ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/orcid.org/0000-0002-8646-6551 |
Areas of expertise
Breastfeeding, breastfeeding support, midwifery, maternity care, pregnancy experience, birth experience, stigma of obesity
Breastfeeding, breastfeeding support, midwifery, maternity care, pregnancy experience, birth experience, stigma of obesity
Biography
I'm currently working as a university lecturer at the Department of Nursing Science, University of Turku. My main research interests are in maternity care and midwifery: my current research projects focus on breastfeeding support, pregnancy and birth experiences and the stigma of obesity. I am part of department's research group called Intelligent Health. I coordinate the international issues at the Departments. I am leading The Finnish Association of Nursing Research HTTS during the years 2024-2025. Further, I lead the Baltic Sea Region Network in Personalized Health Care, which aims to enhance doctoral education in health sciences at the area.
My PhD was completed in 2016 after a 4-year-position in Finnish National Doctoral Programme in Nursing Science, supported by Academy of Finland and University of Turku. During my postdoctoral phase, I spent two months at the University of California as a visiting researcher. Before my academic career, I have worked seven years as a midwife in the delivery ward in Turku university hospital. I was graduated as a midwife in 2002 (Turku university of applied sciences).
Research
Breastfeeding, breastfeeding support, midwifery, maternity care, pregnancy experience, birth experience, stigma of obesity, health promotion of women
Teaching
Research methodology, qualitative analysis, research seminars, thesis supervision
Publications
- Predicting and Explaining Parenting Stress 3 Months After Birth Using Generalized Additive Model (2026)
- CIN: Computers Informatics Nursing
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Synnytyksen käynnistyksen todellisuus ei aina vastaa odotuksia (2026)
- Turun Sanomat
(E1 Popularised article) - The effectiveness of an online exercise program on urinary incontinence of postpartum women: a quasi-experimental study (2026)
- Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Circadian rhythm of heart rate and heart rate variability in pregnancy (2025)
- npj Women's Health
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Effectiveness of supporting lifestyle change in pregnant mothers with obesity through the wearable internet-of-things (SLIM) -intervention on self-efficacy in weight management in pregnant women : A quasi-experimental trial (2025)
- Midwifery
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Feasibility of the breastfeeding peer support application—perspectives of peer supporters and breastfeeding mothers (2025)
- International Breastfeeding Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Hoitajan mahdollisuudet tukea potilaan perhettä teho-osastolla (2025)
- Tehohoito
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Mitä tutkimusnäyttö kertoo kotisynnytysten turvallisuudesta? (2025)
- Kätilölehti
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Synnyttäjien kokemuksia synnytyksen käynnistyksestä (2025)
- Kätilölehti
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - The association between exclusive breastfeeding and quality of care and maternal factors in a tertiary maternity hospital in Finland: A cross-sectional study (2025)
- Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)



