Improved Hygiene Measures For Australian Child Care Centres: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,573.00
Summary
Roughly fifty percent of young Australian children receive care outside their home. As greater numbers of women choose to continue working after childbirth, the proportion of children exposed to group care in the first few years of life will continue to increase. In developed countries child care attendance has been shown to be the most important modifiable risk factor for respiratory tract infections and otitis media. A previous study in nine Darwin child care centres demonstrated high rates of ....Roughly fifty percent of young Australian children receive care outside their home. As greater numbers of women choose to continue working after childbirth, the proportion of children exposed to group care in the first few years of life will continue to increase. In developed countries child care attendance has been shown to be the most important modifiable risk factor for respiratory tract infections and otitis media. A previous study in nine Darwin child care centres demonstrated high rates of respiratory tract infections, otitis media, antibiotic use and colonisation with both penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant pneumococci. This study will assess the impact of simple hygiene measures on rates of pneumococcal colonisation, respiratory infection, otitis media, and pneumococcal antibiotic resistance. Twenty child care centres will be randomised to receive additional training and education in the prevention of spread of respiratory infection or routine care. Outcomes measures will include the number of new infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, reported illnesses, and rates of otitis media and nasal discharge documented by fortnightly examination with video recording and tympanometry. Efficacy of the intervention will be estimated at the end of the school year (9 months after the intervention) to avoid bias associated with changes in the child care environment that occur over the school holidays. The centres randomised to routine care will receive the full intervention at the completion of the study and all centres will be re-assessed 6 months .Read moreRead less
New Technology For New Mums - A Pragmatic Trial Of Web-Based Support For Mothers Of Young Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$916,717.00
Summary
"New Technology for New Mums" is a research project to test the effectiveness of a combined nurse and internet-based support service for carers of infants from 4 weeks to 18 months.
Impact Of An Infant Sleep Intervention On Infant Sleep And Maternal Wellbeing: A Cluster Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,500.00
Summary
Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression are common in the Australian community. Over a third of Australians report a problem with their infant's sleep in the second six months of life whilst 10-15% of Australian women will experience an episode of depression in the first year after their child is born. Both infant sleep problems and postnatal depression have been associated with serious outcomes including child abuse, child behaviour problems, maternal physical and emotional problems, fam ....Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression are common in the Australian community. Over a third of Australians report a problem with their infant's sleep in the second six months of life whilst 10-15% of Australian women will experience an episode of depression in the first year after their child is born. Both infant sleep problems and postnatal depression have been associated with serious outcomes including child abuse, child behaviour problems, maternal physical and emotional problems, family stress and family breakdown. This study builds on previous work conducted by researchers at the Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. In this work, a brief behavioural intervention significantly decreased infant sleep problems and symptoms of maternal depression, particularly for depressed mothers. The intervention consisted of controlled crying and removal of sleep associations such as a dummy which the infant had become dependent upon to fall asleep. Mothers who received the intervention reported 20% fewer sleep problems and a 45% reduction in depression symptoms compared with mothers who did not receive the intervention. The interention also improved maternal sleep quality and quantity and reduced the need for professional sleep services. It was acceptable to mothers, of low cost and was minimally disruptive to families - in contrast to many current strategies directed primarily at postnatal depression. This trial aims to determine whther a similar intervention delivered by Victorian Maternal and Child health nurses within their usual practice settings can replicate these important benefits.Read moreRead less
Adolescent And Young Adult Parental Antecedent Of Health And Development In The First Year Of Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,331.00
Summary
In the past 50 years the gap between reproductive maturity at puberty and first childbirth has extended to around 2 decades. This coincides with a rise in mental disorders and substance use that has the potential to affect the health of babies and their mothers. This study will build on 20 years of work to test in a 1000 offspring the extent to which problems such as prematurity, post-natal depression and early mother-child relationships may be affected by earlier mental health and behaviour.