Maternal Health Study
The Maternal Health Study is a longitudinal study investigating
the health and well-being of over 1500 women during pregnancy and
after the birth of their first child. The study is designed to fill
in some of the gaps in current research evidence regarding women's
physical and psychological health and recovery after childbirth.
The study has been underway since 2002.
While serious complications of childbirth are now rare, there is
little detailed research on how women's health is affected in the
longer term by pregnancy and giving birth. Common experiences after
childbirth include back pain, tiredness, urinary and bowel
problems, persisting perineal pain, changes affecting sexual health
and difficulties in intimate partner relationships. Currently,
there is insufficient detailed research evidence regarding the
natural history of common maternal health issues to inform primary
and specialist health professionals in their care of women during
and after pregnancy.
The Maternal Health Study will provide the first Australian data
on the incidence of maternal health problems, and make a major
international contribution to current evidence concerning the role
of birth events in contributing to maternal health problems.
The hospitals participating in the study include the Angliss Hospital, Southern
Health (comprised of Casey Hospital, Dandenong Hospital, Monash
Medical Centre - Clayton and Moorabbin campuses) and the Royal Women's Hospital. Thankyou to all the
staff involved at the participating hospitals.
The study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research
Council, VicHealth, The William Buckland Foundation and The Alfred
Felton Bequest
Angliss Hospital : Southern
Health : Royal Women's Hospital