Grant: Applied Chairs in Reproductive, Child & Youth Health Services & Policy Research

Health services research is critical for addressing the twin issues of quality control and cost containment that are required to ensure a sustainable health care system. My proposed research program attempts to optimise the health of mothers and babies through health services research that influences health policy. Some of the projects to be addressed in my research program include 1. Studies on severe maternal illnesses (e.g., are clinical practice changes such as increased oxytocin use, responsible for the increasing rates of excessive bleeding after childbirth in Canada and other industrialized countries or is the recent increase in postpartumhemorrhage due to anti-depressant and other drugs?). 2. Studies on improving fetal health (e.g., developing a better method for diagnosing poor fetal health in order to reduce early delivery especially at preterm gestation). 3. Studies on improving infant health (e.g., though better knowledge translation related to antenatal corticosteroid use, which helps small babies breathe more easily).