Defining early lung function and respiratory health trajectories in First Nations infants

Disparities in health for indigenous communities are a global issue. The Strong Families Study is a First Nations peoples co-designed cohort to support improved perinatal and early childhood outcomes. It is the largest birth cohort study of its kind to date and the first inclusive of mothers, partners, and their children. This research program will focus on identifying important events happening within the first year of life that determine respiratory health and lung function trajectories in recruited infants. The projects will focus on pre-natal and post-natal factors determining:

i) baseline offspring lung function at 6 weeks;

ii) lung function trajectories determined by respiratory function tested at 6 weeks and 12 months; and

iii) respiratory health defined by episodes of wheeze and bronchiolitis within the first 12 months of life.

Relationships observed within this cohort will be compared to those within other important birth cohorts both nationally (Barwon Infant Study) and internationally (Drakenstein study, South Africa). 

For more information about this project, please contact Dr Tamara Blake