The health of society is directly tied to the health of childbearing woman, ill health of woman has serious and far reaching consequences for the health of her children family and community. Much of the acute and chronic ilness later in life has it's origins in the perinatal period. Professor Jenny Gamble.
About us
The Maternity and Family Unit aims to improve quality of life for childbearing women and their families by addressing the physical, mental, emotional and social issues affecting them. The unit delivers evidence that improves health care services and provides women, their families, policy makers and healthcare professionals with the facts they need to make informed secisions on critical issues.
Unit Objectives
Maternity and Family unit has established a nationally competitive research track record that is relevent to the national research agenda, clinically significant and interdisciplinary.
- Strengthening and supporting childbearing women and families
- Promoting normal birth
- Interventions to prevent perinatal emotional distress
- Developing workforce capacity and practice
- Improving maternal and child health for vulnerable families
Maternity and Family has strong links with industry and the profession including:
- Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies
- Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
- Australian College of Midwives Queensland
- Gold Coast Hospital Queeensland Health
- Metro South Maternity Services – Logan and Redland
- Maternity Coalition
Areas of research
- Antenatal depression
- Postnatal depression
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder associated with childbirth
- Fear of childbirth
- Investigating strategies to prevent and treat perinatal mood disorders
- Impact of perinatal mood disorders on parenting and families