Rural and remote health research: Does the investment match the need?

Objective

To determine the percentage of research projects funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council in the period 2000–2014 that aimed specifically to deliver health benefits to Australians living in rural and remote areas and to estimate the proportion of total funding this represented in 2005–2014.

Design

This is a retrospective analysis of publicly available datasets.

Setting

National Health and Medical Research Council Rural and Remote Health Research 2000–2014.

Outcome measures

‘Australian Rural Health Research’ was defined as: research that focussed on rural or remote Australia; that related to the National Health and Medical Research Council's research categories other than Basic Science; and aimed specifically to improve the health of Australians living in rural and remote areas. Grants meeting the inclusion criteria were grouped according to the National Health and Medical Research Council's categories and potential benefit. Funding totals were aggregated and compared to the total funding and Indigenous funding for the period 2005–2014.

Results

Of the 16 651 National Health and Medical Research Council‐funded projects, 185 (1.1%) that commenced funding during the period 2000–2014 were defined as ‘Australian Rural Health Research’. The funding for Australian Rural Health Research increased from 1.0% of the total in 2005 to 2.4% in 2014. A summary of the funding according to the National Health and Medical Research Council's research categories and potential benefit is presented.

Conclusion

Addressing the health inequality experienced by rural and remote Australians is a stated aim of the Australian Government. While National Health and Medical Research Council funding for rural health research has increased over the past decade, at 2.4% by value, it appears very low given the extent of the health status and health service deficits faced by the 30% who live in rural Australia.     

Impact of Baby‐Friendly Hospital Practices on Breastfeeding in Hong Kong

Abstract: Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative to improve hospital maternity care practices that support breastfeeding. In Hong Kong, although no hospitals have yet received the Baby‐Friendly status, efforts have been made to improve breastfeeding support. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of Baby‐Friendly hospital practices on breastfeeding duration. Methods: A sample of 1,242 breastfeeding mother‐infant pairs was recruited from four public hospitals in Hong Kong and followed up prospectively for up to 12 months. The primary outcome variable was defined as breastfeeding for 8 weeks or less. Predictor variables included six Baby‐Friendly practices: breastfeeding initiation within 1 hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding while in hospital, rooming‐in, breastfeeding on demand, no pacifiers or artificial nipples, and information on breastfeeding support groups provided on discharge. Results: Only 46.6 percent of women breastfed for more than 8 weeks, and only 4.8 percent of mothers experienced all six Baby‐Friendly practices. After controlling for all other Baby‐Friendly practices and possible confounding variables, exclusive breastfeeding while in hospital was protective against early breastfeeding cessation (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.42–0.88). Compared with mothers who experienced all six Baby‐Friendly practices, those who experienced one or fewer Baby‐Friendly practices were almost three times more likely to discontinue breastfeeding (OR: 3.13; 95% CI: 1.41–6.95). Conclusions: Greater exposure to Baby‐Friendly practices would substantially increase new mothers’ chances of breastfeeding beyond 8 weeks postpartum. To further improve maternity care practices in hospitals, institutional and administrative support are required to ensure all mothers receive adequate breastfeeding support in accordance with WHO guidelines. (BIRTH 38:3 September 2011)     

Racial Variation in Serum Uric Acid Concentration in Pregnancy: a Comparison between European, New Zealand Maori and Polynesian Women

A prospective study was undertaken to measure serum uric acid levels in normal pregnant women of different races, to ascertain if there was any significant interracial variation. A total of 48 women were studied of which 13 were European, 11 New Zealand Maori, 22 Pacific Islanders and 2 Indian. In the second trimester, European, Maori and Cook Island women had similar uric acid levels and other Polynesian groups showed significantly higher levels. In the third trimester, both Maori and Cook Island women showed a marked rise so that their levels came to equal those of other Polynesian groups, all 3 having significantly higher levels than European women. The importance of these observations relates to the use of uric acid levels in the management of patients with gestational proteinuric hypertension. It is possible that in these cases unusually high results may alarm the clinician into hasty intervention.     

Inconsistent Evidence: Analysis of Six National Guidelines for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section

Abstract: Background: Guidelines are increasingly used to direct clinical practice, with the expectation that they improve clinical outcomes and minimize health care expenditure. Several national guidelines for vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) have been released or updated recently, and their range has created dilemmas for clinicians and women. The purpose of this study was to summarize the recommendations of existing guidelines and assess their quality using a standardized and validated instrument to determine which guidelines, if any, are best able to guide clinical practice. Methods: English language guidelines on VBAC were purposively selected from national and professional organizations in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument was applied to each guideline, and each was analyzed to determine the range and level of evidence on which it was based and the recommendations made. Results: Six guidelines published or updated between 2004 and 2007 were examined. Only two of the six guidelines scored well overall using the AGREE instrument, and the evidence used demonstrated great variety. Most guidelines cited expert opinion and consensus as evidence for some recommendations. Reported success rates for VBAC ranged from 30 to 85 percent, and reported rates of uterine rupture ranged from 0 to 2.8 percent. Conclusions: VBAC guidelines are characterized by quasi‐experimental evidence and consensus‐based recommendations, which lead to wide variability in recommendations and undermine their usefulness in clinical practice. (BIRTH 37:1 March 2010)