None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The 2019/2020 bushfire season has had a widespread impact on the health and wellbeing of people in Australia. Exposure to air pollutions, such as bushfire smoke, during pregnancy and early childhood is associated with health impacts later in childhood. Additionally, pregnant and breastfeeding women with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, are particularly vulnerable to bushfire smoke exposure. The purpose of the research is to investigate the impacts of bushfire smoke exposure on health outcomes of vulnerable groups (pregnant and breastfeeding women) with and without asthma, particularly evaluating the impact of smoke on respiratory symptoms, wellbeing, and maternal concerns and behaviours ( e.g. exposure reduction strategies, medication use, and infant feeding practices). The information from this project will inform guidelines and health messages (developed and disseminated with our partner groups) for pregnant and breastfeeding women with and without asthma, and healthcare providers. Further, it enhances bushfire preparedness and responses by explaining effective preventive strategies to reduce smoke exposure and treatment. Women who agree to participate in this study will fill out a baseline survey online, via telephone or a paper-based copy. After completing the baseline survey, participants will be invited to complete two follow up surveys during and after the next bushfire season in 2020/202. The follow-up surveys will also be via online, via telephone or paper-based options.
Interventions
This study is a cross-sectional survey with longitudinal follow up of pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with asthma and without asthma, and health outcomes of their infants. The aim is to better understand the experiences and impacts of the 2019/2020 bushfires on the health and wellbeing of this population. Further, it also examines the impacts on this cohort leading into the 2020/2021 bushfire season, notably evaluating wellbeing, and maternal concerns and behaviours (e.g. exposure reduction
This study is a cross-sectional survey with longitudinal follow up of pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with asthma and without asthma, and health outcomes of their infants. The aim is to better understand the experiences and impacts of the 2019/2020 bushfires on the health and wellbeing of this population. Further, it also examines the impacts on this cohort leading into the 2020/2021 bushfire season, notably evaluating wellbeing, and maternal concerns and behaviours (e.g. exposure reduction strategies, medication use, and infant feeding practices). The study will be conducted primarily online using REDCap survey software. The survey will be distributed to participants who have registered and provided informed consent using a web-based platform, paper-based survey or verbally (via telephone). Participants will receive a web-link via email or telephone call to complete the survey. Follow up surveys will also be conducted in January and May 2021, exploring the impact on this cohort regarding their preparedness, health and wellbeing during the subsequent 2020/2021 bushfire season. Participants will receive a follow-up survey invitation (via email or text message), providing information on accessing the follow-up survey through an online link, mailed out a paper-based survey or via a telephone call. The initial questionnaire will take approximately 25-30 minutes to complete. Follow-up surveys will take approximately 20 minutes each. The initial survey was administered on 28th December 2020.
Sponsors
Professor Vanessa M. McDonald
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
All women that meet the inclusion criteria below; 1. Women 18 years of age or older 2. Residing in MNCLHD, NSW, Australia during the 2019/2020 Bushfire season, between July 2019 – March 2020. 3. Pregnant and /or breastfeeding during the 2019/2020 Bushfire season 4. For the asthma group, a previous doctor diagnosis of asthma is required 5. If you are completing this as a non-asthma participant this means you do not or never have had a diagnosis of asthma
Exclusion criteria
None
Outcome results
None listed