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Adherence to Health Guidelines: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

Publisher: Prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health, 2012

Status – CURRENT

This report uses data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) to assess adherence to national guidelines for preventative health behaviours and selected health screening. The guidelines used for this report are those disseminated by the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and/or the Australian Government Department of Health, based on the best available evidence at the time.

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Report of the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion

Publisher: American Psychological Association, 2008

Status – CURRENT

This report summarises the available evidence on the mental health factors associated with abortion. While the data is related to the United States, this evidence is still relevant to the Australian policy context.

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Partner Violence and the Health of Australian Women

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2005

Status – CURRENT

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) has added significantly to our understanding of the effects of partner violence. Partner violence has a serious impact on women’s physical and mental health, including increased symptoms and  medical conditions, such as sexually transmitted infections (including cervical cancer) and depressive illness. Not surprisingly, women who have lived in violent relationships use health services more often than other women, and are especially more likely than others to visit their GPs. Other life experiences can help or hinder the health and wellbeing of women who have experienced partner violence. For example, women with high social support are healthier than those without.

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Mental Health

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2005

Status – CURRENT

Mental health problems lead to more disability, dependence, and time out of the workforce than any other type of health problem in Australia. This is largely because they often occur among young people, and because – once established – they tend to re-occur across the lifespan. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) uses several standard self-report measures of mental health, including the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the SF-36 Mental Health Index. In addition, the research team has developed a measure of perceived stress specifically for the project. Women are also asked about psychotropic medications and diagnoses of mental health problems.

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Alcohol Consumption and Women’s Health

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health, 2005

Status – CURRENT

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) regularly collects information about women’s health and health behaviors, including their consumption of alcohol. Drinking alcohol at risky levels increases the likelihood of illness, hospitalisation and death. But while heavy drinking has negative health, social and  economic implications, there may be some benefits from low alcohol consumption.

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Young Women: Tobacco, Alcohol and other drugs

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health, 2005

Status – CURRENT

There is public concern about young women’s use of tobacco, alcohol and other recreational drugs. In particular, there is a perception that it is increasing, and there is apprehension about potential long term consequences. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) supports concerns that tobacco continues to pose a major challenge to women’s health. Evidence from the Study suggests that inappropriate use of alcohol and other drugs is relatively uncommon and is often limited to a brief period in young women’s lives. Nevertheless it has the potential for serious long-term consequences

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Paid Work and Women’s Health

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health, 2005

Status – Current

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) regularly collects information about how women use their time, including the amount of time spent in paid and unpaid work and leisure, and relates this to health and well-being. As research has repeatedly shown, Australian women of all ages are spending more time in the paid workforce, but still take the main responsibility for the unpaid care of their families, whatever their paid employment commitments. Despite this, ALSWH data show that, at least in middle age, women with paid work are in better health than those without, but the desirable amount of paid work varies depending on women’s other responsibilities.

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Health and Experience of Violence Among Young Australian Women

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2004

Status – CURRENT

Violence against women is associated with serious reproductive outcomes. These include unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, high rates of abortion, low birth-weight, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, and the murder of both mother and child. Violence against women also impacts on their general physical and mental health.

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