Research

TAHA supports ‘active’ research, which is research that can be translated into practice to improve health outcomes for Pacific communities.

We do this through:

  • Effective translation and information sharing; ensuring information relating to the health and wellbeing of Pacific mothers and infants is communicated appropriately and effectively to all key stakeholders;
  • Working alongside key stakeholders to ensure that diverse Pacific perspectives are conveyed and appropriately incorporated into research projects; and
  • Leading the development of, and contributing to, the best evidence available for Pacific maternal and infant health.

If you are conducting a research project related to Pacific maternal and infant health, please contact us so your project can be listed here.

TAHA research projects

TAHA is leading on the following research projects:

Pacific Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) and Stillbirth Literature Review (Author: Seine Taufa)
  • Explores the issues of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy and Fetal Death with particular reference to Pacific people, indigenous and minority groups. Reviews the current literature available with the aim of providing ways in which a workforce development plan can be initiated to offer training in maternal health and provide services for those who have lost infants.

Areas identified for future research include:

  • Pacific infant care practices
  • Midwives and well child workers experiences in caring for Pacific pregnant women and their families
  • Pacific ethnic-specific responses to dealing with grief and loss of an infant associated with SUDI and stillbirth

Other Pacific maternal and infant health research

The following research projects relate to Pacific maternal and infant health:

Exploring Samoan women's attitudes towards antenatal and midwifery care (Researcher: Dr Ausaga Faasalele Tanuvasa)
 
  • Three year project (2008-2011) being undertaken by Victoria University researchers, funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Aims to explore, in depth, the attitudes of Samoan women towards antenatal and midwifery care in order to identify the barriers and opportunities within midwifery services for appropriate services when working with Samoan women.
The Auckland Stillbirth Study (Researcher: Tomasina Stacey)
  • Hopes to reduce the number of stillbirths that occur in New Zealand by identifying and quantifying likely risks which cause late stillbirth. Aims to isolate risks that can be modified to prevent late stillbirth and will examine the prevalence of risk factors in the major ethnic groups (Maori, Pacific Island and European). See Cure Kids website for more details http://www.curekids.org.nz/stillbirth.htm

Validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as a Screening Tool to Identify Postnatal Depression in Samoan & Tongan Women (Researchers: Bettina Ikenasio-Thorpe, Sara Weeks, Siale Foliaki, Jesse Kokaua, Alec Ekeroma)
 
  • The research team have been undertaking validity and reliability investigations of the EPDS against the fully-structured WHO composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI) assessment of mental disorders, in Samoan and Tongan women who delivered live-births at Middlemore Hospital.

For more information [click here]

Contact: Dr Bettina Ikenasio-Thorpe
Organisation: Pacific Women's Health Research & Development Unit (PWHRDU)
Email: bettina.ikenasio-thorpe "at" middlemore.co.nz
Phone: (09) 276-0044 extn 2207

Pacific Islands Families Study: The association of Infant Health risk indicators and acculturation of Pacific Island mothers living in New Zealand (Researchers: Burrows J, Williams, M, Schluter, P, Paterson, J, Langitoto Helu, S.) Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. In press as at May 2010.
 
  • This article (in press as at May 2010) will report the findings of the PIF Study’s analysis of the association between acculturation and maternal and infant risk factors such as Maternal Depression, Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence, Gestational Smoking, Small for Gestational Age, Infant Hospital Admission etc. Acculturation has been defined as “modification of the culture of a group or individual as a result of contact with a different culture”. The key findings were that a mother’s strong alignment to Pacific culture had a positive effect on Maternal and Infant health outcomes.

For more information, check out this presentation [click here] and contact El-Shadan Tautolo, Pacific Island Families Study, Phone (64 9) 921-9999 extn 7527, Email: elshadan.tautolo "at" aut.ac.nz

Research translation and information sharing

TAHA has developed the following mechanisms through which research is translated and information is shared:

TAHA newsletter

TAHA’s biannual newsletter is an easy way to keep up to date with the latest developments in Pacific maternal and child health and wellbeing.

To receive our regular newsletter, sign up here.

TAHA website

TAHA’s website is an easy way to access the latest information in Pacific maternal and child health and wellbeing.

To receive notification when new information is posted on our website, sign up here.

TAHA seminars

TAHA’s seminars aim to disseminate the latest research and developments in Pacific maternal and child health and wellbeing.

To receive notification when each new seminar is scheduled, sign up here.