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Research

Mental health concerns present significant challenges for Australian youth. Arts organizations play a key role in promoting preventative mental health strate-gies through enhancing the social and emotional well-being (SEWB) of youth. However, little is known about how the arts promote SEWB and the processes and contexts through which this occurs. 

Research

Genomic sequencing in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients often discovers novel genetic variants, which are classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Functional analysis of each VUS is required in specialised laboratories, to determine whether the VUS is disease causative or not, leading to lengthy diagnostic delays.

Research

This study adds to the current literature by using a novel device-based method to explore where preschool children are physically active outside of home and childcare settings. This study combined accelerometry with geospatial data to explore the influence of the environment on preschool children's physical activity by objectively identifying the locations where preschool children engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) within and outside of their neighborhood.

Research

Previous studies showed that unfavourable weather conditions discourage physical activity. However, it remains unclear whether unfavourable weather conditions have a differential impact on physical activity in children compared with adults.

Research

A substantial body of literature points to the educational and social benefits of school breakfast programs. Most high-income countries provide free or subsidized school breakfasts to support disadvantaged children. Australia does not have a nationally-funded school meal program. Instead, charitable organizations offer school breakfast programs on a voluntary basis, often with funding support from state/territory governments.

Research

This study systematically reviewed Australian literature to determine if an association exists between geospatial exposure to food outlets and diet, health or weight status. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Research

Childhood obesity and physical inactivity are two of the most significant modifiable risk factors for the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Yet, a third of children in Wales and Australia are overweight or obese, and only 20% of UK and Australian children are sufficiently active.

News & Events

Pregnancy brings with it some level of risk. There is no getting around that. Of course, women want to do the best for their baby, but there is a risk.

News & Events

The results from two new The Kids Research Institute Australia studies on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) show an association between the condition

News & Events

The Kids Research Institute Australia has shown that stopping breastfeeding and introducing formula milk before babies reach six months of age is linked to an obesity risk.

News & Events

Researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia have today been awarded more than $11 million in funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

News & Events

Nationwide review looking at effective mental health strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

News & Events

The important role of vitamin D in early development is the focus of research that has uncovered links between vitamin D levels and healthy growth of the baby d

News & Events

Researchers at Perth's The Kids for Child Health Research are mourning the sudden passing of Canadian child development expert Dr Clyde Hertzman

News & Events

New research from Perth's The Kids for Child Health Research shows that a Western diet is associated with an increased risk of liver disease in teenag

News & Events

One of the largest population studies of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children has revealed maternal smoking during pregnancy to be an imp

News & Events

Australian charity celebrates 20 years of providing meningitis awareness and marks World Meningitis Day with footy star

Research

Previous Australian studies have shown that delayed vaccination with each of the three primary doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccines (DTP) is up to 50 % in certain subpopulations. We estimated the excess burden of pertussis that might have been prevented if (i) all primary doses and (ii) each dose was given on time.

Research

To assess potential benefits and direct healthcare cost savings with expansion of an existing childhood influenza immunisation program, we developed a dynamic transmission model for the state of Western Australia, evaluating increasing coverage in children < 5 years and routinely immunising school-aged children.

Research

Environmental chemical contamination is a recognised risk factor for psychological distress, but has been seldom studied in the context of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. We examined psychological distress in a cross-sectional study of three Australian communities exposed to PFAS from the historical use of aqueous film-forming foam in firefighting activities, and three comparison communities without environmental contamination.

Research

The association between early-life respiratory syncytial virus infections and later respiratory morbidity is well established. However, there is limited evidence on factors that influence this risk. We examined sociodemographic and perinatal factors associated with later childhood respiratory morbidity requiring secondary care following exposure to a laboratory-confirmed RSV episode in the first 2 years.

Research

Following the introduction of jurisdictional maternal pertussis vaccination programs in Australia, we estimated maternal vaccine effectiveness (VE) and whether maternal pertussis vaccination modified the effectiveness of the first 3 primary doses of pertussis-containing vaccines.

Research

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is driven by a complex interaction of demographic, socioeconomic and behavioural factors, including those related to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Epidemiological studies that measure both infection and potential risk factors associated with infection help to understand the drivers of transmission in a population and therefore can provide information to optimise STH control programmes.

Research

There has been renewed interest in the therapeutic use of bacteriophages (phages); however, standardised therapeutic protocols are lacking, and there is a paucity of rigorous clinical trial data assessing efficacy.

Research

The Pre-school Osteoarticular Infection (POI) study aimed to describe the burden of disease, epidemiology, microbiology and treatment of acute osteoarticular infections (OAI) and the role of Kingella kingae in these infections.