Archive for category: 32- Biomedical and Clinical Sciences

The KIDDO team, Michael Rosenberg (front), Brodie Ward (left), Amanda Derbyshire (right)

Hey KIDDO, improve your move!

July 13, 2020/in 32- Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Education, Health /by Scott Mitchell

Maintaining patterns of regular physical activity and good nutrition are important factors for developing good health in children. However, less than half of WA children are participating in the recommended minimum of 60 minutes of daily exercise. Research from a team at The University of Western Australia has led to the development of the KIDDO program, a platform that provides on-site and online resources and training programs for parents and educators of children, to understand the importance of physical literacy. The program aims to have children ready to move by the start of primary school and moving well and often by the end of primary school.

Folate fortification reduces neural tube defects

April 7, 2019/in 32- Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Economy, EI Case study, Health, Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, Public policy, Social /by Scott Mitchell

Maternal dietary folate deficiency in the first weeks of life carries a higher risk that the fetus’ neural tube will not fuse, leading to the development of either spina bifida or anencephaly. For two decades Bower et al. followed a dedicated pathway to impact by lobbying the Australian Government’s Health portfolio’s statutory authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), to introduce mandatory fortification of wheat flour. In 1995 voluntary fortification was allowed and in 2009 fortification of wheat flour with folate became mandatory. From 2011 to 2016, NTD births dropped, regardless of mother’s culture, age, educational attainment or choice of hospital system.