Investigating The Association Between Incarceration While Pregnant And Maternal And Infant Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,500.00
Summary
The number of women incarcerated within Australian prisons has doubled over the last ten years. Prisons contain large numbers of women from Indigenous backgrounds, women with a mental illness, women with violent partners and women with substance abuse problems. As such they constitute one of the most disadvantaged groups within Australian society and their children are unlikely to experience a healthy start to life. At any one time around 5-10% of women inside Australian prisons are pregnant. Th ....The number of women incarcerated within Australian prisons has doubled over the last ten years. Prisons contain large numbers of women from Indigenous backgrounds, women with a mental illness, women with violent partners and women with substance abuse problems. As such they constitute one of the most disadvantaged groups within Australian society and their children are unlikely to experience a healthy start to life. At any one time around 5-10% of women inside Australian prisons are pregnant. There has been no Australian research into the effect incarceration has upon pregnant women or their babies. Some believe that women who are incarcerated during their pregnancy may have better outcomes as they are outside their normal milieu with restricted access to alcohol and illicit drugs and separated from abusive partners. Others argue that the stress of incarceration and separation from family and friends could result in poorer pregnancy outcomes. This study will investigate whether being imprisoned while pregnant results in better or worse pregnancy and birth outcomes for Australian women and their babies.Read moreRead less
SUcceSS: SUrgery For Spinal Stenosis - A Randomised Placebo-controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,303,245.00
Summary
This will be the first placebo-controlled randomised trial of surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and aims to determine the efficacy and safety of this intervention in decreasing pain and improving disability in this population. The cost-effectiveness of surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis will also be determined.
The Australian Twin Registry (ATR) is a volunteer registry of over 30,000 twin pairs willing to consider participation in health research. This national resource was established in the 1980s with NHMRC support because twin studies play a unique, powerful role in research on the impact of genetic and environmental factors on health. Over 400 studies have benefited. The ATR seeks on-going funding to remain internationally competitive and meet increasing demand due to advances in genetic research.
Long Term Supplementation With Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) And The Risk Of Bone Fractures: A Population Based Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$167,707.00
Summary
Osteoporosis is a major health problem in Australia and other western industrialised countries where populations are increasingly ageing. In Australia, the number of hip fractures is expected to increase by 36% between 1996 and 2006, owing to the rise in elderly aged 85 years and over. This is in contrast to projections in Europe and North America, where the number of hip fractures are expected to double by 2026 and then stabilise. Clarification of the role of vitamin A in bone health is pertine ....Osteoporosis is a major health problem in Australia and other western industrialised countries where populations are increasingly ageing. In Australia, the number of hip fractures is expected to increase by 36% between 1996 and 2006, owing to the rise in elderly aged 85 years and over. This is in contrast to projections in Europe and North America, where the number of hip fractures are expected to double by 2026 and then stabilise. Clarification of the role of vitamin A in bone health is pertinent, given that the popularity of supplement use has increased markedly in western industrialised countries over the past two decades. Around 37% of the adult population in Australia is thought to take a supplement regularly and figures range from 28% to 54% of adults in the US, with women and adults aged over 49 years being more likely to use supplements. Furthermore, the fortification of food with minerals and vitamins is increasing. For all of these reasons, is it imperative that the role of vitamin A in inducing fractures be clarified. Results from this study will contribute to knowledge about the safety of retinol and beta carotene supplements in relation to bone health, which is especially relevant to people at risk of osteoporosis, and people who take vitamin A supplements. We will also be able to clarify the upper levels of dietary retinol, beta carotene and vitamin A intake beyond which fracture risk increases. Because of the age range of subjects in our study, our results should be applicable to the whole population, not only the elderly or post menopausal. The results of our study will be useful to agencies such as Food Standards Australia and New Zealand which regulates our food supply.Read moreRead less
I am an epidemiologist using record linkage to investigate the causes and consequences of developmental disabilities such as birth defects, intellectual disability and autism and to identify possibilities for their prevention and amelioration.