Parental Somatic Mosaicism Detected During Prenatal Diagnosis.

Objective: Accurate recurrence risks are essential for genomic counselling and parental reproductive choices. Historically, Sanger sequencing was used to test parental samples, which has a limited sensitivity of ∼ 10% for detecting somatic mosaicism. Next generation sequencing (NGS) methods, utilised for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) and trio prenatal exome sequencing in our laboratory, have greater sensitivity.

Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on international student wellbeing in Australia.

Issue Addressed: International students are at a heightened risk of experiencing negative health and wellbeing outcomes, which was further exacerbated during the COVID-19 lockdowns. This research sought to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and wellbeing of international students in Australia.

Methods: Thirty-one international students participated in qualitative in-depth interviews between March and April 2022 to explore their experiences of health and wellbeing during 2020-2021 while they lived and studied in Australia.

Views and preferences of food-insecure pregnant women regarding food insecurity screening and support within routine antenatal care.

Background: Food insecurity is a public health concern that has profound impact on physical and mental health, and on social well-being. Pregnancy is a period in which food insecurity is likely to be particularly deleterious, due to the serious impact on both mother and child. Food insecurity is not routinely screened in antenatal healthcare settings, and the preferences of pregnant women regarding food insecurity screening and support are poorly understood.

Digital Apps to Improve Mobility in Adults with Neurological Conditions: A Health App-Focused Systematic Review.

The provision of mobility exercises through a smartphone application (app) for people undertaking neurological rehabilitation may improve mobility outcomes. However, it is difficult for clinicians and consumers to select high-quality, appropriate apps. This review aimed to identify (1) which mobile health (mHealth) apps are suitable for prescribing mobility exercises for adults with neurological health conditions, (2) how well these apps incorporate telehealth strategies, and (3) how well these apps rate in terms of quality and capacity for behaviour change.

Cultural food practices and sources of nutrition information among pregnant and postpartum migrant women from low- and middle-income countries residing in high income countries: A systematic review.

Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may engage in a range of cultural food practices during pregnancy, including restricting or avoiding foods high in protein and iron, and foods rich in vitamins and minerals. While research has explored the cultural food practices of pregnant women in LMICs, there is less understanding of the continued cultural food practices of women who migrate to high-income countries and then become pregnant. This systematic review explores the existing research on cultural food practices and sources of nutrition information among pregnant and postpartum migrant women from LMICs, residing in high-income countries.

Assessing the Quality and Behavior Change Potential of Vaping Cessation Apps: Systematic Search and Assessment.

Background: An increasing number of people are using vapes (e-cigarettes), and with growing evidence of associated harms, there is a need for acceptable cessation support and interventions. Smartphone apps for health and well-being have increased in popularity and use. Limited published literature assesses the potential of apps to support vaping cessation.

Barriers and enablers to antenatal care attendance for women referred to social work services in a Victorian regional hospital: A qualitative descriptive study.

Background: Women referred to social work services during pregnancy are more likely to experience social disadvantage than those who are not, resulting in reduced antenatal care attendance. Lack of antenatal care engagement leads to poor identification and management of concerns that can have immediate and long-term health consequences for women and their babies. Identifying the barriers and enablers to antenatal care attendance for women referred to social work services is important for designing models of care that promote effective engagement.

Cross-cultural food practices and nutrition seeking behaviors among pregnant and postpartum Indian women living in Australia.

No research has explored the experiences of Indian women who become pregnant after they migrate to Australia, and how their existing traditions mix with their new environment and subsequently impact eating patterns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven women of Indian heritage who were living in Australia, and data were thematically analyzed. The researchers identified two main themes were identified (a) foods to eat and which to avoid, and (b) support networks and sources of health information during pregnancy.

Could commercial meal kits be part of the solution to food insecurity during pregnancy? An Australian exploratory study.

Aim: To explore the nutritional content of meal kits from two main Australian companies over a 6-week period against healthy eating guidelines for pregnancy.

Method: Across the 6-week period, weekly meal kits from both Provider 1 and Provider 2 were purchased, 36 individual meals were assessed. All data were analysed for the development of a macronutrient and micronutrient profile of meals.

How, why and for whom does a basic income contribute to health and wellbeing: a systematic review.

Ensuring that people have a sufficient income to meet their basic needs and that it keeps pace with costs of living are important when considering ways to reduce health inequities. Many have argued that providing a basic income is one way to do this. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the existing peer reviewed evidence on the health and wellbeing impacts of basic income interventions.

Antenatal healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding food insecurity in pregnancy: A qualitative investigation based at a specialist antenatal hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Background: Food insecurity exists when accessibility and availability of nutritious food is restricted, increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to food insecurity, which is concerning as optimal nutrition to support both their own health and the health and growth of their unborn child is critical. Antenatal healthcare providers (AHPs) are central to provision of pregnancy care.

Food insecurity screening procedures used in reproductive healthcare settings.

Context: Food insecurity is an important determinant of health and should be identified by clinicians during routine reproductive healthcare. The procedures used in reproductive healthcare settings to identify people experiencing food insecurity have not been fully researched.

Objective: The objective of this study was to synthesize evidence from published studies that describe the procedures implemented by clinicians in healthcare settings to identify food insecurity in pregnant women, or women of reproductive age (15 years-49 years).

Measuring Food Insecurity in India: A Systematic Review of the Current Evidence.

Purpose Of Review: India is home to an estimated 200 million malnourished people, suggesting widespread food insecurity. However, variations in the methods used for determining food insecurity status mean there is uncertainty in the data and severity of food insecurity across the country. This systematic review investigated the peer-reviewed literature examining food insecurity in India to identify both the breadth of research being conducted as well as the instruments used and the populations under study.

What's in a commercial meal kit? Structured review of Australian meal kits.

Objective: The aim of this project is to review the products and recipes contained within popular subscription meal kits to determine if they are suitable for wider use among people who are food insecure.

Design: Across the 6-week period, weekly meal kits from both HelloFresh and Markey Spoon were purchased, resulting in thirty-six individual meals that were prepared and assessed. Meals were assessed based on the content included in the meal kit compared with the recipe card and the nutrition panel, the costs of the individual foods if purchased at one of two major supermarkets and the ease of preparation.

The coping continuum and acts reciprocity - a qualitative enquiry about household coping with food insecurity in Victoria, Australia.

Objective: Food insecurity exists when a household has limited or uncertain access to food. This paper explores the strategies employed by households who are already accessing emergency and community food assistance to meet their food needs.

Method: Interviews to explore strategies used to mitigate food insecurity of people living in Victoria, Australia, between June 2018 and January 2019.

Are mothers under lunchbox pressure? An exploration of the experiences of Victorian mothers preparing lunchboxes for their children.

Issue Addressed: A healthy diet is particularly important during childhood. Research suggests that more than 95% of Australian primary school aged children do not eat a diet consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, putting them at risk of poor health. Interventions to improve the quality of children's lunchboxes may help address this issue.

Screening Food Insecure during Pregnancy: Pilot Testing an Effective Brief Tool for Use in an Australian Antenatal Care Setting.

The purpose of this research is: (1) to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among pregnant people using the 10-, 6-, and 2-item iterations of the USA Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) and the single item measure, and (2) identify an appropriate combination of questions that could be used to identify food insecurity in a clinical setting for a population of people who are pregnant in Australia. Cross-sectional survey collecting self-reported data from pregnant people in Australia (open May 2021 to March 2022). Survey included demographic characteristics, including income/welfare use, education, age, pregnancy information, household size and composition, and two measures of food insecurity.

Consensus from an expert panel on how to identify and support food insecurity during pregnancy: A modified Delphi study.

Background: Food insecurity and hunger during pregnancy have significant implications for the health of the mother and baby. Assisting clinicians when they encounter women who are experiencing hunger or food insecurity during their pregnancy will increase the opportunity for better birth and pregnancy outcomes. At present there are no guidelines for Australian clinicians on how to do this.

Development of a Comprehensive Household Food Security Tool for Families with Young Children and/or Pregnant Women in High Income Countries.

Despite increasing rates of food insecurity in high income countries, food insecurity and its related factors are inconsistently and inadequately assessed, especially among households with young children (0-6 years) and pregnant women. To fill this gap, researchers from the U.S.

Factors Associated with Food Insecurity among Pregnant Women and Caregivers of Children Aged 0-6 Years: A Scoping Review.

With a global focus on improving maternal and child nutrition through the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, it is important to understand food insecurity in pregnant women and families with young children, as food insecurity at these life stages can have ongoing negative health consequences. However, factors that influence food insecurity among this population group are not well understood. This scoping review investigates the factors that influence food insecurity among pregnant women and households with young children aged 0-6 years living in high-income countries.

Systematic Review of Interventions Addressing Food Insecurity in Pregnant Women and New Mothers.

Purpose Of The Review: Food insecurity can have a negative health impact for women during pregnancy and the postpartum period; however, there are a range of barriers to meeting nutritional guidelines during pregnancy. Food insecurity is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications and mental and physical health outcomes. This review aims to provide insight into programmes and interventions which have targeted food insecurity in pregnant and early postpartum women.

Experiences of Food-Insecure Pregnant Women and Factors Influencing Their Food Choices.

Introduction: Food insecurity (FI), an inadequate access to healthy, affordable food, is a public health concern primarily driven by material hardship. Optimal antenatal nutrition promotes best health outcomes for the mother and baby. Pregnant women experiencing FI are less able to access healthy foods, increasing the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes and preterm labour.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Australia: are there challenges facing sexual health promotion?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV refers to the daily use of antiretroviral medications by HIV uninfected persons to block a potential HIV infection. There is evidence to show that as the use of PrEP increases, the use of other safer sex practices such as condoms decreases, which may lead to an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study aimed to explore whether PrEP had caused any challenges for organizations undertaking sexual health promotion activities in Australia.

Phylum-Spanning Neuropeptide GPCR Identification and Prioritization: Shaping Drug Target Discovery Pipelines for Nematode Parasite Control.

Nematode parasites undermine human health and global food security. The frontline anthelmintic portfolio used to treat parasitic nematodes is threatened by the escalation of anthelmintic resistance, resulting in a demand for new drug targets for parasite control. Nematode neuropeptide signalling pathways represent an attractive source of novel drug targets which currently remain unexploited.