2024: We have now launched the website of our Bendigo Family Study. This will be one of Australia's largest tri-generational rural family studies. See the website here: www.bendigofamilystudy.com
2023 We are expanding our father's research into a new study. The Bendigo Family Study will be one of Australia's largest studies of regional families. We have a fabulous team of four young trainee specialists in O&G preparing to recruit a cohort of families in the greater Bendigo region to explore the health of mothers, fathers and grandparents. 2023: The main paper approaches! Our main Australian Father's Study paper addresses whether fathers get postnatal depression in a similar way that mothers do. To understand this phenomenon we tracked 1000 individual fathers from pregnancy to the postnatal period and repeatedly assessed their mental health at various time points. Our exciting results have been accepted for an oral presentation at the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand annual scientific conference to be held in New Zealand in April next year.
2022 How much involvement do fathers have with the National newborn screening program? We have another new research student. Madison Ewins is exploring fathers experiences with the National newborn screening program. Her thesis has now been submitted and we hope to publish next year.
2022 What do non-English speaking fathers experience in the birthing room? How do non-english speaking fathers think of birth in Australia. See our results published here: Ishak C, Petersen R, Quinlivan J. Opinions of Non-English Speaking Fathers in the Antenatal and Delivery Room. J Perinat Educ. 2022 Oct 1;31(4):188-198. doi: 10.1891/JPE-2021-0012. PMID: 36277224; PMCID: PMC9584103.
2021 A new study evaluating the experiences of non-English speaking fathers We've decided to look at our non english speaking fathers and have a new research student Christine Ishak. Results soon.
2019 Presentation at International Society of Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The Hague, Netherlands We presented our studies on father's experiences at this major global conference.
2018 More about the fathers of preterm babies A second presentation at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on fathers of preterm babies. We plan on submitting a paper for publication soon on this topic.
2018 Fathers of preterm babies: exploring their psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life A presentation arising from our research on fathers of preterm babies from the Australian Father's Study. One of our students Ingrid Petersen presented at the Australian Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Sydney.
2018 All fathers accounted for and data entered. A phenomenal retention rate in the Australian Father's Study as we account for all enrolled fathers. Thanks to the innovative use of text messages and the many students who roamed clinics and wards and to Ronni Highet who helped with co-ordination. Well done.
2017 How do father's manage their partner's nausea and vomiting in pregnancy? Our latest publication addresses father's role when their partner suffers from nausea and vomiting or morning sickness in pregnancy. To read the abstract click here. This paper may be accessed online from the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
2017 Birth experience of fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy: Are they prepared? This Australian Father's Study publication looks at teenage fathers and their response to the birth of their baby. To access the full text of the publication click here.
2016 Presenting at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ASM This week one of our research students presented an abstract at the RANZCOG ASM held in Perth, Australia. The abstract explored the influence of the decline in the mining boom in Western Australia on the fly in, fly out (FIFO) fathers in our Australian Father's Study. We found that as the price of iron ore fell and retrenchments hit the FIFO communities, levels of anxiety and depression rose in our fathers who held the role of bread winners for their families. We plan to write the findings up as a full paper in due course but the abstract is available. To read the abstract click here.
2016 What do Australian Fathers think about infant vaccination? Another publication from the Australian Father's Study. This time we have explored attitudes towards vaccination. The majority (89%) of the 409 participants in this sub-study had a positive attitude towards infant vaccination. However 9% of fathers reported a neutral and 2% a negative attitude towards infant vaccination. Positive attitudes towards vaccination were associated with lower self-reported knowledge of pregnancy issues but a higher likelihood of discussing pregnancy issues with health care providers rather than sourcing information from the internet (both p<0.0001). Given the advocacy of the anti vaccination movement you may be interested to read the qualitative comments from our fathers about vaccination in the full article. To read the full article click here. To read the blog related to the article click here.
2016 Education and employment help teenage fathers Our latest publication from the Australia Father's Study by Andrea Atkinson highlights how important the social determinants of disease are in relation to fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy. We have previously reported high levels of depression and anxiety in this vulnerable group of fathers. However, if economics are optimal, and employment and education are available, teenage fathers have levels of depression and anxiety no different to other fathers. Father's self identify roles within families, and despite many social changes, being a breadwinner is still important for self esteem. To read the full article click here. To read the blog related to the article click here.
2016 On the home run. Final data in from dad number 750. Well done to the recruiters and dads. We are on the home run.
2015 Invited Speaker Australian Association of Infant Mental Health Congratulations to study our chief investigator on an invited presentation to the AAIMH conference. Quinlivan JA. Engaging fathers in perinatal services – findings from the Australian Father’s Study. Australian Association of Infant Mental Health ASM 29-31 October 2015 Sydney. To see the abstract click here.
2015 Half way there. Today we celebrated our 500th recruit into the Australian Father’s Study. A great milestone.
2015 Presentations at the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Congratulations to team members presenting at the 2014 Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand National conference in Perth. The following presentations occurred.
Ngweso S, Petersen R, Quinlivan J. Australian Father’s Study: How do fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy view the birth experience? Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand ASM Melbourne April 19-22 2015. To see the abstract click here. Atkinson A, Petersen R, Quinlivan J. Australian Father’s Study: Anxiety, depression and quality of life in teenage fathers. Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand ASM Melbourne April 19-22 2015. To see the abstract click here.
Prosser N, Petersen R, Quinlivan J. Australian Father’s Study: What attitudes do expectant fathers have towards infant vaccination? Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand ASM Melbourne April 19-22 2015. To see the abstract click here.
2015 Presentations at the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology international meeting Congratulations to team members presenting at the 2014 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists international meeting in Brisbane. The following presentations occurred.
Lam D, Highet R, Petersen R, Quinlivan J. Australian Father’s Study: Expectant teenage fathers attitudes and roles during pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ASM Brisbane Australia April 2015. To see the abstract click here.
Sartori J, Coall D, Petersen RW, Quinlivan JA. Australian Father’s Study: How does hyperemesis in pregnancy impact upon expectant fathers? Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ASM Brisbane Australia April 2015. To see the abstract click here.
Quinlivan JA, Highet R, Petersen RW. Australian Father’s Study: Do Fly In, Fly Out (FIFO) expectant fathers have higher rates of psychological distress than other expectant fathers? Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ASM Brisbane Australia April 2015. To see the abstract click here.
2015 Are fathers engaged in antenatal care? Are Australian father's engaged in antenatal care? Our findings recently published in the Journal of Perinatal Education suggest not. One hundred fathers from the Australian Father's Study completed validated questionnaires asking about engagement. The majority (83%) reported a lack of engagement with antenatal care. Factors significantly associated with lack of engagement in were working more than 40 hours a week and lack of adequate consultation by antenatal care staff. In qualitative analysis, six themes emerged. These were role in decision making, time pressures, the observer effect, lack of knowledge, barriers to attendance, and feeling unprepared or anxious. Care providers should involve fathers in consultations to improve paternal engagement. Reference: Jeffery T, Luo K, Kueh B, Petersen RW, Quinlivan JA. Australian Fathers’ Study: What Influences Paternal Engagement With Antenatal Care? JOURNAL OF PERINATAL EDUCATION 24(3):181-187 · JANUARY 2015 DOI: 10.1891/1058-1243.24.3.181
To read the complete published research article click here.
2014 Presentations at RANZCOG WA/SA regional meeting Congratulations to our team member presenting at the 2014 Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand National conference in Perth. The following presentation occurred.
Le Nepveu A, Brandon K, Ki-Yung L, Jeffery T, Petersen RW, Quinlivan JA. Australian Father’s Study: Expectant aboriginal fathers. RANZCOG WA Committee ASM Broome June 2014. To see the abstract click here.
2014 Presentations at the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Congratulations to team members presenting at the 2014 Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand National conference in Perth. The following presentations occurred. Luo K, Kueh B, Jeffery T, Petersen RW, Quinlivan JA. Australian Father’s Study: What attitudes and roles do expectant Aboriginal fathers adopt in antenatal care decision-making? Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand ASM Perth April 2014. To see the abstract click here.
Jeffery T, Luo K, Kueh B, Petersen RW, Quinlivan JA. Australian Father’s Study: What influences paternal engagement with antenatal care? Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand ASM Perth April 2014. To see the abstract click here.
2013 Well on the way. Today we celebrated our 250th recruit into the Australian Father’s Study. Well done team.