What are Australian obstetricians' and gynaecologists' perceptions of women’s interconception care needs?

Reducing adverse outcomes on mother and child are key priority areas. However, antenatal engagement with women about lifestyle risk reduction can be too late to prevent some outcomes such as low birth weight associated with smoking, and, fetal alcohol syndrome associated with alcohol intake. Additionally, increases in chronic conditions associated with lifestyle risk can increase adverse maternal and infant outcomes. These risks increase with subsequent pregnancies at a time when there can be challenges for women juggling work and family commitments. This project seeks to research a key providers of maternity and women's health care, obstetricians and gynaecologists, about their perceptions of women's lifestyle risk reduction needs between pregnancies. This project sits within SPHERE, an NHMRC funded Centre of Research Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women in Primary Care. SPHERE is led by Professor Danielle Mazza and supported by multidisciplinary students and researchers in the Department of General Practice. The successful candidate will have opportunity to be part of this team with support from supervisors.