Bibliographies
The following bibliography has been compiled from the Australian Family & Society Abstracts database and other resources held in the Institute's library. Where available a link to the document on the Web is provided. Most items can be borrowed from the Institute's library via the inter library loan system. Online publications in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Health Issues
Breaking the abuse cycle: Helping depressed
women parent.
Buist, A
In: One child's reality, everyone's responsibility:
proceedings, 8th Australasian Conference on Child
Abuse and Neglect. Melbourne, Vic: Department of
Human Services, 2001, CD-ROM, 5p, tables
Increasing interest in the outcomes of the children
of the mentally ill has resulted in a number of
long term studies of women and their children. Many
of these, researching depression, have concluded
that postpartum depression has a 'medium to large
effect' on mother infant interaction and a small
but significant effect on cognitive and emotional
development of the child. What many of these studies
do not consider is what impact the depression has,
versus the often associated risk factors, such as
socioeconomic disadvantage, poor parenting models
and childhood abuse in the parents. This author
reviews these issues, with particular reference
to her own study, and looks at ways of intervening
in order to help decrease the risks of poor parenting
and abuse. (Author abstract, edited)
Grief, trauma and parenting children with
disability: Cycles of disenfranchisement.
Bruce, E J
Grief Matters v.3 no.2 Winter 2000: 27-31
This paper begins by tracing the lowlights of an
historically impoverished topic of research and
understanding, namely, grief and trauma in parenting
a child with disability. Beginning in the 1960's,
we find a simplistic framework which has a) neglected
to respect the place of trauma or the continuing
place of grieving integral to this parenting experience,
and b) placed inordinate and unrealistic demands
on parents. This framework remains central to practice
in this area of work today. What are the outcomes?
Without public or professional sanctions, this psychological
experience will remain characterised by unnamed
and invalidated emotions. A cycle of disenfranchisement
can be discerned - parents emotionally overwhelmed
by their own continuing grief will inevitably find
themselves unable to deal with the grief of their
children. (Journal abstract)
Parental drug use: the bigger picture:
A review of the literature.
Patton, N
St Kilda South, Vic: Mirabel Foundation, 2003, 19p
This report collates the current literature on children
and families who have experienced parental illicit
drug use. The author discusses the effects of prenatal
exposure to illicit drug use on physical development,
cognitive development and psychosocial development,
and the effects of environmental factors at the
same stages of development. She discusses child
protection intervention, family preservation and
the rights of the child. She also examines the commonalities
between children affected by parental illicit drug
use and other minority groups of children in the
community, such as those whose parents have a disability
or mental health issues.
Predictors of depression in very young
children: A prospective study.
Najman, Jake M; Hallam, Dorothy; Bor, W (Bill);
O'Callaghan, Michael; Williams, Gail M; Shuttlewood,
Greg
Social Psychology and Psychiatric Epidemiology v.40
no.5 2005: 367-374, tables
This study examined the mental health of a group
of five year old children in Brisbane. This article
discusses childhood depression, the study methodology
and results, and the five categories of predictor
variables used in the study: socio demographic predictors;
prenatal and perinatal predictors; maternal mental
health predictions; maternal lifestyle predictions;
and maternal attitudes to child and child rearing
predictors.
Refusal
of parents to vaccinate: Dereliction of duty
or legitimate personal choice?
McIntyre, P; Williams, A; Leask, J
Medical Journal of Australia v.178 no.4 Feb 2003:
150-151, and Online
While there are many views on what constitutes acceptable
child rearing, in Australia parental discretion
is limited primarily by legislation against abuse
or neglect. In decisions involving medical treatment,
the legal starting point is that the united view
of both parents is correct in identifying the child's
welfare. Parental decisions are usually overridden
when the court feels that the child's life is endangered.
While vaccine administration is not considered in
the category of immediately life saving, vaccinations
satisfy criteria for preventive interventions in
children. This editorial asks whether refusal of
vaccination poses risks to either the individual
or the community. While children who are not vaccinated
are exposed to significant risks, the authors still
feel that compulsory vaccination is not appropriate.
Socio-cultural matrix of raising a child
with food allergies: Experiences of a migrant
mother.
Sanagavarapu, Prathyusha
Australian Journal of Early Childhood v.29 no.1
Mar 2004: 45-49
Children with life-threatening food allergies are
increasing in number in Australia. A variety of
foods such as dairy milk, peanut and tree nuts,
fish and egg can cause severe allergic reactions
in some children. The foods that cause allergies
could trigger severe breathing difficulties (anaphylaxis)
for these children and, if not treated immediately,
could lead to death. Caring for a child with potentially
life-threatening allergies has social, emotional,
and financial consequences. This paper gives an
insight into the psychosocial and cultural aspects
and experiences of a migrant mother in raising a
child with multiple and potentially life-threatening
food allergies. It also advocates for improved and
equitable access to child care for these children.
(Journal abstract)
A
stitch in time: Promotion of resilience in parents
and children by identification, support and
intervention in postnatal depression, attachment
and parenting difficulties in a maternal and
child health setting (PDF 122 KB).
Blackshaw, K; Bishop, L; Herbert, L; Slykerman,
A
In: Early Childhood Matters Conference - Starting
Strong - making the most of the first eight years:
conference papers. Melbourne, Vic: Department of
Human Services, 2002, 7p, Online
The universality of the Maternal and Child Health
Service provides the opportunity for every mother
to have professional support. The authors discuss
the role of this service in identification, support
and intervention in postnatal depression, attachment
and parenting difficulties. Also discussed is the
difficulty that arises when first time mothers choose
not to attend groups. There are varied reasons given,
but it is quite common for those who do not attend
to be the mothers with postnatal depression. A strategy
to assist these families, developed in the Shire
of Yarra Ranges, is the Maternal Health Questionnaire,
which covers both physical and emotional health.
Its use is described, as are other strategies that
have been developed, such as Positive Parenting
Seminars, and a Positive Parenting Group.
What about the mother and family when
an infant doesn't sleep?
Rolls, C; Hanna, B
Australian Journal of Primary Health v.7 no.3 2001:
49-53
Becoming a new parent is a time of enormous change
in the lifestyle of women, particularly as women
are expected to take on prime responsibility for
caring for the child. Motherhood can be exhausting
and lonely as women cope with the demands of a new
baby. These demands are exacerbated when infants
do not sleep. This causes many parents to seek professional
intervention with persistent infant sleep problems.
Through focus group interviews, this study sought
to understand the experiences of 28 women and families
in how they coped with and managed an infant with
sleep problems. Results indicated that women experienced
major role confusion as they internalised the image
that 'a good mother does it all'. Persistent infant
crying and their own sleep deprivation exacerbated
their loss of identity and shattered their self-image,
and caused anger and confusion in some partners.
Each woman sought primary health care support through
a five-day residential stay in an Early Parenting
Centre in Victoria. The women found that this professional
support facilitated confidence building and feelings
of normality. Most important, staff encouraged the
women to feel good about themselves and their ability
to manage future sleep problems. (Journal abstract)