Abstract
The health of an individual is determined by the interaction of genetic and individual factors with wider social and environmental
elements. Public health approaches to improving the health of disadvantaged populations will be most effective if they optimise
influences at each of these levels, particularly in the early part of the life course. In order to better ascertain the relative
contribution of these multi-level determinants there is a need for robust studies, longitudinal and prospective in nature,
that examine individual, familial, social and environmental exposures. This paper describes the study background and methods,
as it has been implemented in an Australian birth cohort study, Environments for Healthy Living (EFHL): The Griffith Study
of Population Health. EFHL is a prospective, multi-level, multi-year longitudinal birth cohort study, designed to collect
information from before birth through to adulthood across a spectrum of eco-epidemiological factors, including genetic material
from cord-blood samples at birth, individual and familial factors, to spatial data on the living environment. EFHL commenced
the pilot phase of recruitment in 2006 and open recruitment in 2007, with a target sample size of 4000 mother/infant dyads.
Detailed information on each participant is obtained at birth, 12-months, 3-years, 5-years and subsequent three to five yearly
intervals. The findings of this research will provide detailed evidence on the relative contribution of multi-level determinants
of health, which can be used to inform social policy and intervention strategies that will facilitate healthy behaviours and
choices across sub-populations.
elements. Public health approaches to improving the health of disadvantaged populations will be most effective if they optimise
influences at each of these levels, particularly in the early part of the life course. In order to better ascertain the relative
contribution of these multi-level determinants there is a need for robust studies, longitudinal and prospective in nature,
that examine individual, familial, social and environmental exposures. This paper describes the study background and methods,
as it has been implemented in an Australian birth cohort study, Environments for Healthy Living (EFHL): The Griffith Study
of Population Health. EFHL is a prospective, multi-level, multi-year longitudinal birth cohort study, designed to collect
information from before birth through to adulthood across a spectrum of eco-epidemiological factors, including genetic material
from cord-blood samples at birth, individual and familial factors, to spatial data on the living environment. EFHL commenced
the pilot phase of recruitment in 2006 and open recruitment in 2007, with a target sample size of 4000 mother/infant dyads.
Detailed information on each participant is obtained at birth, 12-months, 3-years, 5-years and subsequent three to five yearly
intervals. The findings of this research will provide detailed evidence on the relative contribution of multi-level determinants
of health, which can be used to inform social policy and intervention strategies that will facilitate healthy behaviours and
choices across sub-populations.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-011-0940-4
- Authors
- Cate M. Cameron, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Logan Campus, L03 2.45, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
- Paul A. Scuffham, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Logan Campus, L03 2.45, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
- Anneliese Spinks, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Logan Campus, L03 2.45, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
- Rani Scott, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Logan Campus, L03 2.45, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
- Neil Sipe, School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- ShuKay Ng, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Logan Campus, L03 2.45, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
- Andrew Wilson, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
- Judy Searle, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Logan Campus, L03 2.45, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
- Ronan A. Lyons, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP Wales UK
- Elizabeth Kendall, School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
- Kim Halford, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Lyn R. Griffiths, Genomics Research Centre, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
- Ross Homel, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD 4122, Australia
- Roderick J. McClure, Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875