Research into health and wellbeing
newborn baby laying on her lap
Research overview
Researchers at the University of Melbourne are working to improve the public health and futures of vulnerable communities through research, education and inclusive development.
Projects we're involved with
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Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative
Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative is a global initiative that has partnered with low and-middle-income countries to reach an anticipated 1.5 billion or more people. The Initiative aims to dramatically improve health data, including improving understanding of the leading causes of premature death, with the ultimate goal to save more lives by ensuring countries have more accurate public health information through strengthened civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems.
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Invisible mothers: young Pasifika women, health inequalities and negotiating wellbeing
Invisible Mothers is an interdisciplinary, community-engaged project investigating the experiences of young Pasifika mothers in Melbourne, Australia. These young women have significantly poorer health outcomes than the general population, yet the complexities of their lives are underdocumented. The inequities they experience are shaped by race, class, gender and immigrant status, and the voices of young Pasifika mothers are largely absent in the Australian scholarship on Pasifika.
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kNOwVAWdata
kNOwVAWdata builds on a long history of support from Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and UNFPA to countries conducting VAW prevalence studies throughout Asia and the Pacific. These efforts combined to form the kNOwVAWdata initiative, which provides technical support and capacity building, enabling countries to undertake VAW prevalence studies in an ethical and scientifically robust way.
Under this partnership, UNFPA and the University of Melbourne have developed and piloted a standard 4-week curriculum for capacity building to measure the prevalence of VAW and improve data literacy.
- UNFPA Pacific Transformative Agenda for Women, Adolescents and Youth
Our partners
Our people
A/Prof Timothy Adair
Lau Dr. Viliamu Iese (Vili)
Prof Ajay Mahal
Prof Celia McMichael
Prof Cathy Vaughan
Recent publications
Our researchers contribute to a large range of publicly-accessible publications.
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See all recent publications
Augustus, E., Whiteman, S., Haynes, E., Guell, C., Ash, C., Jia, L., Morrissey, K., Iese, V., Murphy, M., Anderson, S. and Unwin, N., 2022. The impact of interventions aimed at improving nutritional status and metabolic health in small island developing states: a systematic review. Link
Augustus, E., Bhagtani, D., Haynes, E., St Ville, A., Iese, V., Fesaitu, J., Kroll, F., Hambleton, I., Benjamin-Neelon, S. and Unwin, N., 2021. Using latent class analysis to explore dietary patterns and their associations between sociodemographic characteristics, food sources, dietary diversity, and food insecurity in small island developing states. Link
Binene, V., Panauwe, D., Kauna, R., Vince, J.D. and Duke, T., 2021. Oxygen saturation reference ranges and factors affecting SpO2 among children living at altitude. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 106(12), pp.1160-1164. Link
Boudville, A., Irava, W., Motofaga, S., Gilbert, K. and Annear, P., 2021. Overseas Medical Referral: the health system challenges for Pacific Island Countries. Pacific Health, 4. Link
Burhin, Mikael, Verzilyn Isom, Divinal Ogaoga, Sue Devine, Trevor Duke, Hugo Bugoro, Mathias Tamou, Caleb Mark, and Nixon Panda. "Child health nurses in Solomon Islands, piloting the ‘Bachelor of nursing: Child health’." International nursing review (2023). Link
Burkot, C. and Gilbert, K., 2021. Eliminating again, for the last time: A case study of donor support for malaria in Solomon Islands. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 8(2), pp.189-207. Link
Craig, A.T., Beek, K., Gilbert, K., Soakai, T.S., Liaw, S.T. and Hall, J.J., 2022. Universal health coverage and the Pacific islands: an overview of senior leaders’ discussions, challenges, priorities and solutions, 2015–2020. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), p.4108. Link
De Silva, M.S., Panisi, L., Manubuasa, L., Honimae, C., Taragwanu, S., Burggraaf, S., Ogaoga, D., Lindquist, A.C., Walker, S.P., Tong, S. and Hastie, R., 2022. Incidence and causes of stillbirth in the only tertiary referral hospital in the Solomon Islands: a hospital-based retrospective cohort study. BMJ open, 12(12), p.e066237. Link
De Silva, M., Panisi, L., Lindquist, A., Cluver, C., Middleton, A., Koete, B., Vogel, J.P., Walker, S., Tong, S. and Hastie, R., 2021. Severe maternal morbidity in the Asia Pacific: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 14. Link
De Silva, M., Panisi, L., Brownfoot, F.C., Lindquist, A., Walker, S.P., Tong, S. and Hastie, R., 2019. Systematic review of areca (betel nut) use and adverse pregnancy outcomes. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 147(3), pp.292-300. Link
De Silva, M., Panisi, L., Manubuasa, L., Honimae, C., Taragwanu, S., Burggraaf, S., Ogaoga, D., Lindquist, A., Walker, S., Tong, S. and Hastie, R., 2022. Preventable stillbirth in the Solomon Islands--a retrospective review. Authorea Preprints. Link
Duke, T., AlBuhairan, F.S., Agarwal, K., Arora, N.K., Arulkumaran, S., Bhutta, Z.A., Binka, F., Castro, A., Claeson, M., Dao, B. and Darmstadt, G.L., 2022. World Health Organization and knowledge translation in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition. Archives of disease in childhood, 107(7), pp.644-649. Link
Duke, T., Pulsan, F., Panauwe, D., Hwaihwanje, I., Sa'avu, M., Kaupa, M., Karubi, J., Neal, E., Graham, H., Izadnegahdar, R. and Donath, S., 2021. Solar-powered oxygen, quality improvement and child pneumonia deaths: a large-scale effectiveness study. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 106(3), pp.224-230. Link
Duke, T., Myers, S., Radcliffe, J., Poka, H., Deuel, K., Miller, C.M. and Pavlin, B., 2020. A surveillance system for pigbel in Papua New Guinea, based on a clinical case definition and laboratory confirmation. Papua New Guinea Medical Journal, 63(1), pp.114-121. Link
Dwyer, P.D. and Minnegal, M., 2020. COVID‐19 and Facebook in Papua New Guinea: Fly River Forum. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 7(3), pp.233-246. Link
Freijser, L., Annear, P., Tenneti, N., Gilbert, K., Chukwujekwu, O., Hazarika, I. and Mahal, A., 2023. The role of hospitals in strengthening primary health care in the Western Pacific. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 33. Link
Guariguata, L., Hickey, G.M., Murphy, M.M., Guell, C., Iese, V., Morrissey, K., Duvivier, P., Herberg, S., Kiran, S. and Unwin, N., 2023. Understanding the links between human health, ecosystem health, and food systems in Small Island Developing States using stakeholder-informed causal loop diagrams. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(9), p.e0001988. Link
Halliday, C., Morrissey, K., Saint Ville, A., Guell, C., Augustus, E., Guariguata, L., Iese, V., Hickey, G., Murphy, M.M., Haynes, E. and Tescar, R.P., 2023. Trends in food supply, diet, and the risk of non-communicable diseases in three Small Island Developing States: implications for policy and research. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, p.1058540. Link
Hart, J.D., Kwa, V., Dakulala, P., Ripa, P., Frank, D., Golpak, V., Adair, T., Mclaughlin, D., Riley, I.D. and Lopez, A.D., 2021. How advanced is the epidemiological transition in Papua New Guinea? New evidence from verbal autopsy. International journal of epidemiology, 50(6), pp.2058-2069. Link
Hart, J.D., Mahesh, P., Kwa, V., Reeve, M., Chowdhury, H.R., Jilini, G., Jagilly, R., Kamoriki, B., Ruskin, R., Dakulala, P. and Ripa, P., 2021. Diversity of epidemiological transition in the Pacific: Findings from the application of verbal autopsy in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 11. Link
Hart, J.D., Kwa, V., Dakulala, P., Ripa, P., Frank, D., Lei, T., Moiya, N., Lagani, W., Adair, T., McLaughlin, D. and Riley, I.D., 2020. Mortality surveillance and verbal autopsy strategies: experiences, challenges and lessons learnt in Papua New Guinea. BMJ Global Health, 5(12), p.e003747. Link
Haynes, E., Augustus, E., Brown, C.R., Guell, C., Iese, V., Jia, L., Morrissey, K. and Unwin, N., 2022. Interventions in Small Island Developing States to improve diet, with a focus on the consumption of local, nutritious foods: a systematic review. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 5(2), p.243. Link
Hyatt, A., Chan, B., Moodie, R., Varlow, M., Bates, C., Foliaki, S., Palafox, N., Burich, S. and Aranda, S., 2023. Strengthening cancer control in the South Pacific through coalition-building: a co-design framework. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 33. Link
Iese, V., Wairiu, M., Hickey, G.M., Ugalde, D., Salili, D.H., Walenenea Jr, J., Tabe, T., Keremama, M., Teva, C., Navunicagi, O. and Fesaitu, J., 2021. Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems in Pacific Island countries (PICs): Evidence from communities in Fiji and Solomon Islands. Agricultural Systems, 190, p.103099. Link
Ishida, M., Mulou, N. and Mahal, A., 2022. Travel time to health facilities in Papua New Guinea: Implications for coverage and equity in child vaccinations. Vaccine, 40(38), pp.5556-5561. Link
Kelly-Hanku, A., Nightingale, C.E., Pham, M.D., Mek, A., Homiehombo, P., Bagita, M., Nankinga, J., Vallely, A., Vallely, L., Sethy, G. and Kaldor, J., 2020. Loss to follow up of pregnant women with HIV and infant HIV outcomes in the prevention of maternal to child transmission of HIV programme in two high-burden provinces in Papua New Guinea: a retrospective clinical audit. BMJ open, 10(12), p.e038311. Link
Kennedy, E., Binder, G., Humphries-Waa, K., Tidhar, T., Cini, K., Comrie-Thomson, L., Vaughan, C., Francis, K., Scott, N., Wulan, N. and Patton, G., 2020. Gender inequalities in health and wellbeing across the first two decades of life: an analysis of 40 low-income and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The Lancet Global Health, 8(12), pp.e1473-e1488. Link
Korowi, T., Hwaihwanje, I., Pameh, W., Duke, T. and Vince, J.D., 2020. Neonatal admissions to the eastern highlands provincial hospital special care nursery 2011-2015. Papua New Guinea Medical Journal, 63(1), pp.97-106. Link
Lifigao, M., Nasi, T., Titiulu, C., Lumasa, S. and Duke, T., 2020. Congenital Syphilis in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 66(6), pp.583-588. Lifigao, M., Nasi, T., Titiulu, C., Lumasa, S. and Duke, T., 2020. Congenital Syphilis in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 66(6), pp.583-588. Link
Maltzahn, K., Whiteside, M., Lee, H., Cox, J. and MacLean, S., 2022. Increasing harms for bingo players: digitisation, commercialisation and regulatory inadequacy: a multi-site case study. BMC public health, 22(1), pp.1-12. Link
Maltzahn, K., Whiteside, M., Lee, H., Cox, J. and MacLean, S., 2022. Tackling gambling harm to bingo players at a time of commercial, regulatory and technological change–towards a public health approach. Public Health, 206, pp.70-76. Link
McMichael, C., Schwerdtle, P.N. and Ayeb-Karlsson, S., 2023. Waiting for the wave, but missing the tide: Case studies of climate-related (im) mobility and health. Journal of Migration and Health, 7, p.100147. Link
Minnegal, M. and Dwyer, P.D., 2021. God and the virus in Papua New Guinea: outsourcing risk, living with uncertainty and (Re) creating a niupela pasin. COVID in the Islands: A comparative perspective on the Caribbean and the Pacific, pp.425-441. Link
Moosad, L., Ah Kuoi, Y., Alexeyeff, K., Paulsen, I., and Vaughan, C. (2022). Invisible Mothers: young Pasifika women, health inequalities and negotiating wellbeing. Melbourne, VIC: Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne. Link
Palinkas, L.A., O’Donnell, M., Kemp, S., Tiatia, J., Duque, Y., Spencer, M., Basu, R., Del Rosario, K.I., Diemer, K., Doma Jr, B. and Forbes, D., 2022. Regional Research-Practice-Policy Partnerships in Response to Climate-Related Disparities: Promoting Health Equity in the Pacific. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(15), p.9758. Link
Pulsan, F. and Duke, T., 2021. Response to oxygen therapy using oxygen concentrators run off solar power in children with respiratory distress in remote primary health facilities in Papua New Guinea. Tropical Doctor, 51(1), pp.15-19. Link
Pulsan, F., Duke, T. and Vince, J.D., 2021. Rural healthcare workers’ views on the introduction of solar power and oxygen concentrators in health facilities in Papua New Guinea: A qualitative study. Rural and Remote Health, 21(4), pp.1-5. Link
Thow, A.M., Waqa, G., Browne, J., Phillips, T., McMichael, C., Ravuvu, A., Tutuo, J. and Gleeson, D., 2021. The political economy of restricting marketing to address the double burden of malnutrition: two case studies from Fiji. Public health nutrition, 24(2), pp.354-363. Link
Tosif, S., Jatobatu, A., Maepioh, A., Gray, A., Sobel, H., Mannava, P. and Duke, T., 2020. Healthcare worker knowledge and skills following coaching in WHO early essential newborn care program in the Solomon Islands: a prospective multi-site cohort study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, pp.1-9. Link
Tosif, S., Jatobatu, A., Maepioh, A., Subhi, R., Francis, K.L. and Duke, T., 2020. Cause‐specific neonatal morbidity and mortality in the Solomon Islands: An assessment of data from four hospitals over a three‐year period. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 56(4), pp.607-614. Link
Tosif, S., Jatobatu, A., Maepioh, A., Gray, A., Gilbert, K., Hodgson, J. and Duke, T., 2020. Implementation lessons from a multifaceted National Newborn Program in Solomon Islands: a mixed-methods study. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 102(3), p.667. Link
Vaughan C., Moosad L., Rowe J. 2022. Sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence in Tonga: A legal and policy review. UNFPA, Suva. Link
Vaughan C., Moosad L., Rowe J. 2022. Sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence in Kiribati: A legal and policy review. UNFPA, Suva. Link
Vaughan C., Spiteri-Staines A., Rowe J. 2022. Sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence in Vanuatu: A legal and policy review. UNFPA, Suva. Link
Watch, V., Anga, G., Kilalang, C., Pulsan, F., Vince, J.D. and Duke, T., 2023. Children with palliative care needs in Papua New Guinea, and perspectives from their parents and health care workers: a qualitative study. BMC Palliative Care, 22(1), pp.1-8. Link
Yakea, E.J., Kulau, B.D., Mulu, J. and Duke, T., 2022. Gastroschisis in a premature infant in Papua New Guinea: initial treatment with a normal saline bag silo. Rural and Remote Health, 22(1), pp.1-5. Link
Images: Jo Chandler