Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 184
  • Item
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Sexual identity and mental health in young people: an opportunity to reduce health inequity
    Borschmann, R ; Marino, J (Elsevier, 2019)
    One in every 25 Britons aged 16–24 years identifies as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. 1 Cross-sectional studies consistently report that sexual-minority young people have poorer mental health profiles than their heterosexual peers, 2 including higher prevalence of self-harm and suicide attempts. 3 However, without longitudinal data to document changes over time, these findings are of little clinical utility.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Prenatal alcohol exposure and infant gross motor development: a prospective cohort study (vol 19, 149, 2019)
    Hutchinson, D ; Youssef, GJ ; McCormack, C ; Wilson, J ; Allsop, S ; Najman, J ; Elliott, E ; Burns, L ; Jacobs, S ; Honan, I ; Rossen, L ; Fiedler, H ; Teague, S ; Ryan, J ; Olsson, CA ; Mattick, RP (BMC, 2019-07-04)
    Following publication of the original article [1], the authors opted to revise the first paragraph of the section "Characteristics associated with maternal drinking in pregnancy". Below is the updated version.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study
    Tarzia, L ; Wellington, M ; Marino, J ; Hegarty, K (ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC, 2019-10)
    OBJECTIVE: Reproductive abuse is defined as a deliberate attempt to control or interfere with a woman's reproductive choices. It is associated with a range of negative health outcomes and presents a hidden challenge for health practitioners. There is a dearth of research on reproductive abuse, particularly qualitative research. This study aims to address this gap by exploring how health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with n=17 health practitioners working across multiple disciplines within a large metropolitan public hospital in Victoria. Data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Three themes were developed: Figuring out that something is wrong; Creating a safe space to work out what she wants; and Everyone needs to do their part. CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners relied on intuition developed through experience to identify reproductive abuse. Once identified, most practitioners described a woman-led response promoting safety; however, there were inconsistencies in how this was enacted across different professions. Lack of clarity around the level of response required was also a barrier. Implications for public health: Our findings highlight the pressing need for evidence-based guidelines for health practitioners and a 'best practice' model specific to reproductive abuse.
  • Item
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Trans-generational stress regulation: Mother-infant cortisol and maternal mental health across the perinatal period
    Galbally, M ; van Rossum, EFC ; Watson, SJ ; de Kloet, ER ; Lewis, AJ (PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, 2019-11)
    Understanding maternal mental health and cortisol regulation across pregnancy and the relationship to the development of the offspring's stress regulation is critical to a range of health outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate infant and maternal cortisol in women with depression. Data were obtained from 241 pregnant women within the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study (MPEWS), a selected pregnancy cohort study. Depression was measured using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV) and repeat Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Repeated measures of antidepressant use, stressful events, anxiety symptoms and maternal hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) and infant cortisol at 12 months postpartum in saliva and hair. Socio-emotional outcomes were measured at 12 months by maternal report on the Brief Infant and Toddler Socio-emotional Assessment (BITSEA). This study found that maternal depression was not associated with maternal HCC. Anxiety, stress and antidepressant use were not associated with maternal HCC. Independently, higher maternal 3rd trimester maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with lower infant cortisol response at 12 months of age. A higher number of postpartum stressful events was associated with lower infant cortisol response. Lower infant stress reactivity was associated with higher externalizing symptoms at 12 months of age. Future studies are required to understand implications for later mental health.
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    The role of trauma and partner support in perinatal depression and parenting stress: An Australian pregnancy cohort study
    Galbally, M ; Watson, SJ ; Boyce, P ; Lewis, AJ (SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2019-05)
    BACKGROUND: Improving our understanding of the relationship between maternal depression and parenting stress is likely to lie in the range of additional factors that are associated with vulnerability to depression and also to parenting stress. OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of trauma and partner support, in understanding the relationship between perinatal depression and parenting stress. METHODS: This study utilises data from 246 women in a pregnancy cohort study that followed women from early pregnancy until their infant was 12 months. Included were both women with a diagnosis of depression and those without depression. The measures included Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Social Support Effectiveness Questionnaire and the Parenting Stress Index. RESULTS: We found women with depression were more likely to report a history of childhood trauma. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with parenting stress while partner support was negatively associated with parenting stress. The protective role of partner support for parenting distress was observed in those with no history of childhood abuse and low depressive symptoms, but not in those with a trauma history and high depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of early trauma in understanding the protective role of support on the relationship between parenting and depression. These findings can inform future studies and the refinement of future interventions aimed at both perinatal depression and parenting.
  • Item
    No Preview Available
    Breastfeeding, Antidepressants, and Depression in the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Well-Being Study
    Galbally, M ; Watson, SJ ; Ball, H ; Lewis, AJ (SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC, 2019-02)
    BACKGROUND:: Depression is consistently shown to predict lower rates of breastfeeding. In a handful of studies, breastfeeding has predicted lower depression symptoms. However, studies demonstrating the latter are limited in their measurement of both depression and breastfeeding and have not followed participants from pregnancy across the postpartum period. RESEARCH AIM:: The primary aim of this study was to describe breastfeeding intentions and behaviors for the first 12 months postpartum among nonmedicated depressed, antidepressant-exposed, and control participants. The secondary aim was to examine group differences in the association between depressive symptoms and breastfeeding duration up to 12 months postpartum. METHODS:: First-trimester women ( N = 212) were recruited into a prospective longitudinal study. Depressive disorders at baseline were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, and depressive symptoms were measured at the first and second trimesters and 6 and 12 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Breastfeeding duration, support from family and employers, and perceptions of participants' experience were measured. RESULTS:: Depressed women and antidepressant-exposed women reported a trend toward lower rates of intention, initiation, and duration, but this did not reach statistical significance. There was a statistically significant difference on depressive symptoms for women taking antidepressants during pregnancy, compared with controls, when they continued to breastfeed for 12 months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS:: This study did not find a strong association between depression or antidepressant use and intention to breastfeed, partner breastfeeding support, or initiation or duration of breastfeeding. However, for women who took antidepressants, there was evidence that breastfeeding for 12 months was associated with lower depressive symptoms.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Endovascular management and the risk of late failure in the treatment of ureteroarterial fistulas.
    Titomihelakis, G ; Feghali, A ; Nguyen, T ; Salvatore, D ; DiMuzio, P ; Abai, B (Elsevier BV, 2019-12)
    Ureteroarterial fistula (UAF) is a rare and life-threatening source of hematuria. A high index of suspicion is warranted for early diagnosis and timely intervention. Because of high perioperative risk and comorbidities in UAF patients, the endovascular approach has become preferred for repair. Infection can complicate this mode of therapy, and treatment with antibiotics is important. Herein we present five cases of secondary UAFs treated with stent graft alone or stent graft and embolization.
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Interest in Switching to On-Demand HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Australian Users of Daily PrEP: An Online Survey
    Cornelisse, VJ ; Lal, L ; Price, B ; Ryan, KE ; Bell, C ; Owen, L ; Wright, EJ (OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2019-07)
    We surveyed 970 PrEPX study participants to evaluate interest in switching from daily to on-demand PrEP in a study setting. Interested respondents (n = 469, 48%) more commonly reported PrEP cessation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.0; P < .001), difficulty with adherence (aOR, 1.6; P = .029), infrequent sex (aOR, 3.7; P < .001), and toxicity concerns (aOR, 2.7; P < .001).