Contextual And Composition Determinants Of Urban Health Inequities: An Indigenous Perspective
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,317.00
Summary
This research studies the life experiences of Indigenous Australians living in suburban Australia. The project is exploring whether the characteristics of suburbs have an effect on residents' health, regardless of the make up of the resident population. In particular, this research is examining whether this locational impact is any different for Indigenous people compared to non-Indigenous people. It will specifically take into account the impact of social and economic factors on health. More pa ....This research studies the life experiences of Indigenous Australians living in suburban Australia. The project is exploring whether the characteristics of suburbs have an effect on residents' health, regardless of the make up of the resident population. In particular, this research is examining whether this locational impact is any different for Indigenous people compared to non-Indigenous people. It will specifically take into account the impact of social and economic factors on health. More particularly, the research will consider how Indigenous people's patterns of social interaction, trust and reciprocity - elements of social capital - affect their perceived health status. The research will examine the extent to which people are able to use their social networks to gain access to benefits such as assistance in daily life, access to jobs or to people with influence in ways that directly or indirectly contribute to improved health within the Indigenous population. The impact of racism on health will also be considered. The research will be conducted in two high income and three low income suburbs in Adelaide in order to allow comparisons between the suburbs and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents in each. Information will be collected from detailed interviews, a face-to-face survey and observation of the social environment, services and facilities available in the case study suburbs. The final stage of the research will engage policy makers and program planners to determine the implications of the research for their work. The research findings are designed to be used by policy makers and practitioners when they devise interventions aimed at improving health status and outcomes in Indigenous communities.Read moreRead less
Linking Place To Metabolic Syndrome Via Behavioural And Psychological Antecedents: Levers For Public Health Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$295,135.00
Summary
This collaboration involves the SA Health Department and community partners in analyses of local data from a 10-year biomedical cohort to (i) identify features of residential areas that are related to the metabolic syndrome and (ii) assess the mechanism by which area features influence metabolic syndrome through effects on behavioural and psychosocial mediators. The knowledge generated will inform policy intervention via urban planning and public health actions to support healthful lifestyles.
The Impact Of Urban Design On Active Transportation Patterns In Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,814.00
Summary
There are growing concerns about children's level of physical activity and increasing levels of overweight and obesity. Encouraging active transport among children, particularly walking to school, has been identified as one strategy to increase physical activity, thereby assisting to curb increasing levels of overweight and obesity. While a laudable objective, it is not clear: (a) to what extent the urban design surrounding schools hinders or facilitates children walking to school; and (b) what ....There are growing concerns about children's level of physical activity and increasing levels of overweight and obesity. Encouraging active transport among children, particularly walking to school, has been identified as one strategy to increase physical activity, thereby assisting to curb increasing levels of overweight and obesity. While a laudable objective, it is not clear: (a) to what extent the urban design surrounding schools hinders or facilitates children walking to school; and (b) what the true potential of children being able to walk to school is, given the low density of many contemporary local neighbourhoods. Thus, this study is important because it examines the real potential for children to walk to school in their neighbourhood, and compares parental and student perceptions of the neighbourhood with objective measures of the neighbourhood. The study will compare the active transport habits of children attending schools with optimal and less than optimal neighbourhood environments. Optimal and less optimal urban environments will be identified by creating an objectively measured child pedestrian-specific walkability index using GIS. These data will provide insights to support policy development by government and non-government members of Walking WA to better plan future schools (i.e., Department of Education and Training); to plan future Walking School Buses (Department for Planning and Infrastructure); to communicate with parents about children and active transport (Physical Activity Task Force); and to lobby local government authorities to create safe routes to school. In summary, the research will: (a) provide insights into the design of policy-related and environmental interventions aimed at increasing active transport by children and adolescents; (b) add to a limited body of knowledge on active transport in Australia; and will (c) provide information to our multi-sector partners that can be used to develop future interventions.Read moreRead less
I am a public health academic leading a multi-disciplinary research team and working with multi-sector partners, studying the impact of the BE on physical and mental health outcomes. My research helps build the evidence required to change policy and pract
Regulatory Strategies To Promote Healthier Australian Diets
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of ill health. In contrast to our global leadership in tobacco control, Australia remains slow to use law as a tool to support healthy eating. This project will generate new insights on features of effective food policies to target excess sugar consumption. Using an innovative fusion of law and science, its findings will inform and accelerate current proposals to improve food labelling and tax sugary drinks to promote healthier Australian diets.
Testing The Behavioural And Psychosocial Mechanisms Underlying Geographic Variation In Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,457.00
Summary
This study seeks to assess the mechanisms that explain the link between residential area features and the metabolic syndrome (obesity and high blood pressure, lipids and glucose), related to cardiometabolic diseases. There is more metabolic syndrome in disadvantaged areas but the reasons for this have not been empirically established. We will evaluate behavioural and psychosocialmechanisms that might independently and jointly explain the association between place and metabolic syndrome.
Contextual Influences On Children's And Adolescent's Physical Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,950.00
Summary
Physical inactivity has been linked to several chronic health conditions among children and adolescents. However, there has been no research that has examined the long-term physical activity habits of Australian children and how these habits change as children move into adolescence. In addition, there is only limited information regarding the factors that influence children's physical activity. This study aims to examine changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, such as television v ....Physical inactivity has been linked to several chronic health conditions among children and adolescents. However, there has been no research that has examined the long-term physical activity habits of Australian children and how these habits change as children move into adolescence. In addition, there is only limited information regarding the factors that influence children's physical activity. This study aims to examine changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, such as television viewing and computer use, that occur over three years, and also over five years, among children aged 5-6 years and 10-12 years in 2001 (baseline). As such, this study will provide information about children's physical activity habits through primary school and from late primary school to the end of secondary school. The study will also examine the influence of the family and neighbourhood environment on changes that occur in physical activity and sedentary behaviour over that time. This study is significant because it will provide information on the critical transition period between primary and secondary school. The study will identify when changes in these health behaviours occur, the extent of these changes, and the influence of factors in the family environment and the local neighbourhood on changes in these behaviours. Such information is vital to inform the development of strategies to promote and maintain health-enhancing physical activity levels and reduce sedentariness among children.Read moreRead less