COVID-19 Policies and Maternal Child Health

Project status: Active

Research area: Population Health > Policy and Equity

This study will provide robust evidence of the potential benefits and harms of COVID-19 policies on health outcomes during pregnancy, birth and the first 12 months postnatally; translating these findings into health service provision.

About the study

Victorians faced some of the strictest COVID-19 policies in the world. Whilst this helped to control the SARS-CoV-2 virus, we don't know how these lockdowns, changes to health services, and financial supports affected the health of mothers and babies, especially the most vulnerable.

To find out, we will do three studies:

Compare health outcomes in pregnancy, birth and the first year of life of mothers and babies born prior to the pandemic to those born during the pandemic.
Interview mothers about their lived experience of the pandemic.
Establish a group of policy-makers and healthcare professionals to optimise support for mothers and babies as we rebuild from the pandemic.

Information for participants

Who can take part?

Mothers can take part in the interviews if they:

Gave birth between 01 March 2020 – 31 December 2021
Lived in Hume, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley, Hobson’s Bay, Maribyrnong, Wyndham or Moorabool during the pandemic.

What’s involved?

Completing a short online questionnaire to make sure you are eligible.
Taking part in a 60-minute interview either online, in-person or over the phone.

Contact us

COVID-19 Policies and Maternal Child Health Study
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
The Royal Children's Hospital
50 Flemington Road
Parkville VIC 3052
Australia

Dr Ashleigh Shipton
Email: show email address