Australian researchers are using social media to encourage young women to contribute towards one of Australia’s most significant studies on women’s health.
Researchers from The University of Queensland and The University of Newcastle are using Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and YouTube to recruit Generation Y women from across Australia for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH).
Since 1996, the study has collected data from more than 40,000 women who are now in their 30s or older.
The study findings contribute to knowledge on women’s health and wellbeing in Australia and are used to inform health policy.
UQ ALSWH study director Professor Annette Dobson said they hoped to recruit a new cohort of more than 10,000 women aged between 18 to 23 years old.
“By utilising social media and online surveys we are aiming to encourage young women to participate in the study through the online connections they use everyday,” Professor Dobson said.
“The study is a valuable opportunity for young women to play a central role in identifying the health issues that are important for their generation and to help shape the future of improved health services for women.”
Questions asked are on a range of health topics including weight, physical activity, use of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol, sexual behaviour, patterns of contraceptive use, experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, access to health services and future life goals in relation to education, travel, area of residence, work, family and children.
ALSWH co-director, University of Newcastle Professor Julie Byles, said the findings were used to inform policy and highlight opportunities for improving the health behaviours of women at different life stages.
“A recent report for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing compared national guidelines with actual data provided by study participants, showing that fewer women than ever are meeting guidelines for healthy weight,” Professor Byles said.
“Women who were aged 18 to 23 when the study began, and who are now aged between 34 and 39 years have gained the most weight over the course of the study, with 45 per cent of this age group now overweight or obese.”
Other findings include dietary patterns among pregnant women and women’s use of screening services such as mammography and Pap tests.
Any interested participants can contact 1800 068 081, visit the survey website http://www.alswh.org.au or social media sites www.facebook.com/alswh, www.alswhofficial.tumblr.com, www.twitter.com/ALSWH_Official.
All papers that have been published in regards to the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health including 20 papers published in 2012 can be found at http://www.alswh.org.au/publications-and-reports/published-papers
More information:
ALSWH is a longitudinal population-based survey funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
The project began with more than 40,000 women randomly selected from the Medicare database in 1996.
ALSWH involves three large, nationally representative, cohorts of Australian women representing three generations: 1973-1978 cohort, aged 18 to 23 years when first recruited in 1996 and now aged 34 to 39 years in 2012; 1946-1951 cohort, aged 45 to 50 years in 1996, now aged 61 to 66 years in 2012; 1921-1926 cohort, aged 70 to 75 years in 1996, now aged 86 to 91 years in 2012.
The women have now been surveyed up to six times over the past 16 years, providing a large amount of data on their lifestyles, use of health services and health outcomes. In 2010, ALSWH findings were used extensively in the national Women’s Health Policy. In October 2012, the ALSWH added a new cohort of 18-23 year old women.
Media: Kirsten Rogan, Communications and Media, University of Queensland Faculty of Health Sciences, 07 3346 4713, 0412 307 594 or k.rogan@uq.edu.au
Interviews will be available with UQ researchers involved in the study and Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Melanie Schlanger who is a supporter of the study.
