A Randomised Trial Of An Early Parenting Intervention To Reduce Maternal Mood Disorder And Infant Behavior Disturbance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,503.00
Summary
Over 242,000 women give birth annually in Australia and up to 20% experience significant psychological distress in the baby's first year. Severe fatigue, worrying and depression interfere with the development of maternal confidence. If a baby does not sleep well or feed easily or cries for prolonged periods, mothers can feel ineffective and helpless. Assistance early in the baby's life is important to avoid long-term emotional and behavioral problems for mother and child. Nationally, health and ....Over 242,000 women give birth annually in Australia and up to 20% experience significant psychological distress in the baby's first year. Severe fatigue, worrying and depression interfere with the development of maternal confidence. If a baby does not sleep well or feed easily or cries for prolonged periods, mothers can feel ineffective and helpless. Assistance early in the baby's life is important to avoid long-term emotional and behavioral problems for mother and child. Nationally, health and social policy focuses on assisting families including those with parental mental health and early parenting problems and children at risk of developmental difficulties. Australia's residential early parenting services are unique, offering brief treatment to mothers with difficulties and infants with unsettled behaviour. Parents are educated in infant care and provided with emotional support and assistance to adjust to the demands of parenting. In past studies by CIA and CIB women reported marked improvements in emotional distress, maternal confidence and infant manageability after completing this treatment and six months later. The education and emotional support were rated as acceptable and very effective. This project is a randomized controlled trial that will evaluate whether brief admission to a residential early parenting service has sustainable benefits for mild to moderate maternal mental health problems and for infant behaviour disturbance. Mothers with a diagnosable mental health condition and with four-month-old infants reported to have unsettled infant behaviour will be randomly assigned to a residential treatment program at an early parenting service or to routine care. Mothers and infants will be assessed with standardized psychological measures one month after treatment and when the baby is one year old. An effective and acceptable intervention will provide an important alternative to available treatments for postnatal psychological disturbance.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Enhanced Parenting Capacity To Improve Developmental Outcomes In Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,045,141.00
Summary
In Australia there are 2, 600 very preterm survivors each year. 50% will have education/behavioural difficulties and 10% major disability. We aim to optimise the development of infants born very preterm through a tailored Positive Parenting Program. We predict reductions in child behavioural and emotional problems at 2 years corrected age.
Caregiving Practices And Child Development: A Cross-cultural Perspective.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$109,487.00
Summary
This program of research will investigate the cross-cultural differences in the types and prevalence of cognitive and socio-emotional caregiving practices in a community sample of parents in a low income country. The influence of cultural beliefs, caregiver distress and the common challenges experienced by caregivers will be explored and it will also test the effectiveness of an innovative psychological intervention to facilitate optimal child development.
Infant Motor Development Between 0-4 Months: A New Look At The Effect Of The ‘back To Sleep’ Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$107,182.00
Summary
An unexpected consequence of the Back to Sleep program is an increased incidence of deformational plagiocephaly (DP), or “flat head syndrome”, and concern about delayed development. It is not clear whether the current recommendation to provide ‘tummy-time’ play for infants when awake is the best way to prevent DP. Development of typical infants 0-4 months and infants with DP will be investigated and parents surveyed as a basis for development and trialling of a new DP prevention initiative.
The Longitudinal Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviour Of Preschool Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$131,181.00
Summary
Eating, play and activity habits become established in the preschool-aged period, and if unhealthy can lead to obesity. The Healthy Beginnings Trial works with first time mothers on positive nutrition and physical activity behaviours. At 2 years it has successfully reduced obesity. Longer term follow-up to five years will allow analysis of predictors of physical activity and screen time in relation to obesity. Qualitative data will help understand parenting in relation to physical activity.
Interstitially Invasive Trophoblast Of The Murine Placenta: Developmental Origins, Functions And Gene Expression.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,717.00
Summary
Due to the obvious limitations to studying human pregnancy, the mouse has become a valuable model. However, invasion of the placenta into the uterine wall and vasculature, critical for successful pregnancy, is poorly understood in the mouse. The aims of the proposal are designed to gain a better understanding of these processes in mice and will provide a more accurate model system to study serious pregnancy complications resulting from abnormal placental invasion, such as preeclampsia.
Developing An Evidence Base For The Psychological Care Of Children And Families Affected By Congenital Heart Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
Heart disease affects 1 in every 100 babies, making it one of the most common illnesses in infancy. Diagnosis and treatment of childhood heart disease often causes significant stress and trauma for children and their families. If support is not provided early, children can experience ongoing physical, emotional, and developmental problems. This program is built on a successful history of work and will improve child and family outcomes associated with heart disease through national and internatio ....Heart disease affects 1 in every 100 babies, making it one of the most common illnesses in infancy. Diagnosis and treatment of childhood heart disease often causes significant stress and trauma for children and their families. If support is not provided early, children can experience ongoing physical, emotional, and developmental problems. This program is built on a successful history of work and will improve child and family outcomes associated with heart disease through national and international research collaborations.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Couple-based Program For The Transition To Parenthood.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,750.00
Summary
Couples who become parents face a very important and potentially very rewarding task: working together to raise their child. The current research evaluates the effects of a couple-based education program for people having their first child. The program helps couples develop realistic expectations about parenthood and effective ways of supporting each other as parents. The program also helps partners to understand and promote positive infant development, to enhance their couple communication, and ....Couples who become parents face a very important and potentially very rewarding task: working together to raise their child. The current research evaluates the effects of a couple-based education program for people having their first child. The program helps couples develop realistic expectations about parenthood and effective ways of supporting each other as parents. The program also helps partners to understand and promote positive infant development, to enhance their couple communication, and to promote a positive couple relationship while parenting. The program is offered through one face-to-face workshop held during the late stage of pregnancy, and then a home-based learning package consisting of a mix of videotaped information packages, reading and telephone based sessions with a psychologist. The overall aim is to produce an easily accessible support program for new parents that will enhance a couple's relationship with each other and their child. It is hoped this will reduce problems and enhance enjoyment of people becoming parents.Read moreRead less
We are an international team committed to clinical trials to improve survival without disability in newborn babies. We plan a randomised trial to confirm if bovine lactoferrin, an inexpensive dairy protein, reduces death or major morbidity and increases total breast milk intake in 1,500 very low birthweight babies in neonatal intensive care units