Self-care interventions in pregnancy and childbirth

Self-care is an important component of health care globally, defined as “the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider.”

In pregnancy and childbirth, some self-care interventions have been demonstrated to empower individuals and communities, improve women’s experiences and can promote accessibility to pregnancy and maternity care interventions. Self-care strategies continue to grow and expand due to the many challenges people face in accessing healthcare services, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital technologies – including mobile apps and the increased use of artificial intelligence techniques – offer exciting new opportunities to provide or catalyse self-care.

In this project, a student will conduct desk-based research into the use and effectiveness of self-care interventions in priority areas of pregnancy and childbirth care. The project will also identify self-care strategies which can be taken to scale, or where further research is needed.

Available projects include:

• A systematic review of postpartum self-care interventions for the prevention of diabetes after a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes
• A systematic review of postpartum self-care interventions for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases after a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 

The student will work with the Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group at Burnet Institute in Melbourne. This project will allow the student to gain experience in global maternal and perinatal health epidemiology, systematic review and quantitative analysis methodologies, with a view to a scientific publication.