This research plan aims to reduce the continuing adverse reproductive health outcomes of Indigenous adolescents who currently have limited engagement with comprehensive and appropriate health education and health care. Current health knowledge, health care sought and identified barriers/enablers will be assessed in adolescents. Findings will inform development of a reproductive health education program that will be piloted and evaluated.
Redressing Aboriginal Heart Health Disparity In Western Australia: Valuing Measurement To Inform Action
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
This project aims to make comparisons between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in WA with respect to 1) the occurrence, clinical manifestations and outcomes of selected heart diseases (coronary heart disease, heart failure and dysrhythmias) and major associated co-morbidities and 2) access to acute and continuing medical care for these heart conditions.
Improving Pre-pregnancy Health And Pregnancy Outcomes In North Queensland Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Communities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,819.00
Summary
It is widely recognised that one of the best protections against poor pregnancy outcomes is to have women commence pregnancy in good health, because healthy mothers tend to have healthy babies. The key aim of this research program is to identify opportunities and time-points for effective primary, secondary and tertiary interventions to improve health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of childbearing age and their infants in north Queensland communities.
Cervical Screening Participation And Outcomes For Indigenous Australian Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,546.00
Summary
Cervical cancer is much more common among Indigenous than other Australian women, however little is known about their cervical screening participation or outcomes. This study will use Pap Test Registers and other data sources to compare screening participation and outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, and investigate whether cervical cancer incidence has decreased for Indigenous women in recent years, as it has done for non-Indigenous women in Australia.
Burden Of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) And Impact Of Prevention Strategies: Comprehensive Evidence To Drive The RHD Endgame
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$960,655.00
Summary
Rheumatic heart disease is chronic damage to the heart valves caused by repeated bouts of acute rheumatic fever. Both are preventable, yet rates among Indigenous Australians are of the highest recorded. We propose to undertake the first multi-jurisdictional study of these conditions to determine trends in occurrence and evaluate the impact of existing interventions in Australia. Findings will be used to inform the development of a roadmap to remove RHD as a public health problem in Australia.
An Examination Of The Quality And Acceptability Of Maternal Health Services For Remote Dwelling Aboriginal Women And Infants From The Top End Of Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$56,838.00
Summary
Aboriginal women have long demanded changes in maternity healthcare services. It was anticipated that the implementation of a Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) would decrease fragmentation of care and improve maternal infant health outcomes. The research aims to determine if a changed model of care for remote dwelling Aboriginal women who transfer to Darwin for birth has increased the acceptability of services to women and improved outcomes for mothers and infants.
Intergenerational Determinants Of Fetal Growth In Aboriginal Western Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,179.00
Summary
We will study birth and disease records over 3 generations of Aboriginal families to investigate how a mother’s birth weight and her diseases in pregnancy influence both her reproductive health and her risk of chronic diseases (eg heart disease and diabetes) later in life. This world-first study will guide effective prevention of chronic disease in Aboriginal Australians; it may suggest that prevention needs to start with grand-mothers rather than in later generations.
Indigenous Health Epidemiological Studies To Describe And Improve Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,361.00
Summary
Professor Eades is a leading Indigenous health researcher. Her research combines 1) studies that explore intergenerational and early life influences that increase the risk Indigenous people developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes; and 2) the conduct of randomised controlled trials to test the effectiveness of health care intervention in improving Indigenous health outcomes.
Diabetes And Cardiovascular Risk Among Indigenous Women After Pregnancy Complicated By Hyperglycaemia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Indigenous Australian women are at high risk of having GDM which increases the risk of developing both GDM in future pregnancies and T2DM. We want to clarify these risks and whether there are differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous women. Ideally, we can intervene to prevent this cycle of disease as diabetes in pregnancy has long term poor health outcomes for both mothers and their offspring.