Pregnant, expectant and breastfeeding First Nations mums will be the focus of new research that seeks to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among Aboriginal women across Western Australia.<\/p>\n
The project, led by Dr Anne-Marie Eades from the Curtin School of Allied Health, was made possible by Federal Government funding of more than $800,000 from the 2021 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHRMC) Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).<\/p>\n
Dr Eades, a Noongar woman from the Wagyl Kaip region of Western Australia, said First Nations women, particularly of a childbearing age, urgently needed greater access to vaccinations because they were most vulnerable to infection.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is currently a lack of research addressing the barriers to the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination among Aboriginal families,\u201d Dr Eades said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we do know is that Aboriginal people are less likely to have been vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to the general population, with the differences most bleak in Western Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur study will evaluate the successes, barriers and opportunities of Australia\u2019s COVID-19 vaccination program to reach Aboriginal women and their unborn children – and potentially target children under five in the event of an early childhood COVID-19 vaccine rollout.\u201d<\/p>\n
Partnering with the South-West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) and Babbingur Mia-Aboriginal Women\u2019s Health Service, Dr Eades will be supported by a team of leading experts in Aboriginal health, COVID-19 vaccinations, immunisation, and midwifery.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to determine what factors could have encouraged a greater uptake of vaccination for First Nations mothers who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive,\u201d Dr Eades said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe research will also explore cultural understandings of health, illness, health data and collect information about the perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal woman before, during and after their pregnancy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Chris Moran congratulated the team on being awarded funding support from the Federal Government through the NHMRC.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis team is bringing critical focus to an important area of unmet need,\u201d Professor Moran said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis research will work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and experts with the ultimate aim of driving up vaccination rates to protect the community, especially unborn children.\u201d<\/p>\n