Selected Research Projects

Young people’s sexual and reproductive health

Title: Parents’ approaches to educating their pre-adolescent and adolescent children about sexuality.

About the Project This study aims to explore parents’ approaches to communicating with their pre-adolescent and adolescent children about issues relating to relationships and sexuality. The study was funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency Ireland.

Recent progress

Contact details for further information: Maria Lohan, m.lohan@qub.ac.uk

 

Title : If I were Jack? Adolescent men’s attitudes and decision-making in relation to an unintended pregnancy

About the Project The aim of this study is to explore adolescent men’s decisions in relation to resolving a hypothetical unplanned pregnancy in their lives and to deepen understanding of the psychological and sociological determinants of adolescent men’s hypothetical decisions. Members of the research team first developed a computer based interactive video drama (IVD) for the purposes of this study. Through a film drama entitled ‘If I were Jack’, we attempted to ‘bring to life’ the story of a week in the life of a young man whose girlfriend has just told him she is unexpectedly pregnant. An excerpt of this film drama may be viewed on the following website: www.mediator.qub.ac.uk/ms/streams/Compilation_384K_Stream.wmv

The study was funded by the Health Services Executive Crisis Pregnancy Programme  Ireland.

Recent progress

  • Lohan, M., Cruise, S., O’Halloran, P. Alderdice, F., and Hyde, A.  (In press) Adolescent men’s attitudes and decision-making in relation to an unplanned pregnancy. Responses to an interactive video drama, Social Science and Medicine
  • Lohan, M., Cruise, S., O’Halloran, P. Alderdice, F., and Hyde, A. (2010) Adolescent men’s attitudes in relation to pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review of the literature from 1980-2009. Journal of Adolescent Health 47 (4), 327-345.
  • Cruise, S.M., Lohan, M., O'Halloran, P., Alderdice, F., & Hyde, A. (2010). Adolescent males' involvement in pregnancy outcome decision-making and attitudes towards counselling within a hypothetical pregnancy scenario. The British Psychological Society (Northern Ireland Branch) Conference, Manor House Resort, Killadeas, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, 23rd-24th April, 2010
  • A Northern Ireland version of the IVD has also been produced, Funded by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland, 2009.

Contact details for further information: Maria Lohan, m.lohan@qub.ac.uk

 

Title: Evaluation of Brook Sexual Health Clinic, Coleraine and Outreach Service Belfast.

About the project:

The main aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the new clinic in Coleraine, and the outreach service of the more established clinic in North Belfast.  

The objectives of the study are:

  • To compare improvements in overall sexual health competencies of young people attending Brook Clinic in Coleraine with a cohort attending a local statutory sexual health service (NHSSB).
  • To identify those aspects of the service that enhance or impede the service’s effectiveness.   

Recent progress:

At the time 1 data collection period, 383 questionnaires were completed across both clinics. Focus groups were held with Outreach staff and the Brook Management Committee. Time 2 data collection is now underway and the project will end with a final report in June 2011.

Contact details for further information: Dr Laura Dunne l.dunne@qub.ac.uk

 

Caring for parents/expectant in relation to sexual and reproductive health

Men and Infertility Research

Second only to the human desire for survival is our desire to reproduce so infertility is a devastating diagnosis.   Today, in Western Society the staggering statistic is that one in six couples is infertile. Infertility has significantly deleterious effects on our health and well-being which continue from diagnosis for the rest of our lives.  Human fertility is very inefficient with only a 30% chance of conception each month.  Our contemporary lifestyle choices are exacerbating the problem.  Women are postponing childbearing until their fertility is waning but men’s reproductive health appears to be under threat from arrange of hazards from environmental xenobiotics to lifestyle choices such as recreational drug use.

 In the Reproductive Medicine group, within the Centre for Public Health, our aims are two fold:

  • to investigate the effects of lifestyle and disease on male fertility
  • to develop novel diagnostic /prognostic tests for male infertility

Contact details for further information: Prof. Sheena Lewis, S.e.lewis@qub.ac.uk

 

Title: Reproductive decision-making and experience of pregnancy and childbirth following HIV diagnosis

About the project:

This longitudinal qualitative study aimed to explore the real life contexts in which women and men, affected by a diagnosis of HIV, make reproductive decisions and their experience of pregnancy, childbirth and the care they received. In particular, three groups of women were included in the study, those who were aware of their diagnosis before becoming pregnant, those who learned of their diagnosis during antenatal screening and HIV negative women choosing a pregnancy with a HIV positive partner. Twenty nine in-depth interviews were conducted with ten women and five men at different stages in their journey through the reproductive trajectory.

Recent progress:

  • This project is complete and a thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of degree of PhD.
  • Kelly, C., Alderdice, F., Lohan, M. (2009) Psychosocial challenges of testing positive for HIV during pregnancy British Journal of Midwifery 17 (2), 76-81.
  • Kelly, C., Lohan, M., Alderdice, F. and Spence, D. (2011) Negotiation of risk in sexual relationships and reproductive decision-making amongst HIV sero-different couples. Culture, Health and Sexuality (in press).

Contact details for further information: Carmel Kelly carmel.kelly@settrust.hscni.net

 

Title: Down’s syndrome screening: decision pathways of parents

About the project: This project aims to explore the decision pathway of parents after serum and diagnostic testing for Down’s syndrome

Recent progress

  • The study is now complete and the following are recent publications
  • Lynn F, McNeill J & Alderdice F (2010) Current Trends in Antenatal Screening: Trends from a Regional Survey Ulster Medical Journal 79:1 12-15
  • Alderdice F, McNeill J, Spence D (2009) Complex pregnancy: the importance of midwifery care RCM Midwives Journal Dec/Jan
  • McNeill J & Alderdice F, Rowe R, Martin D & Dornan J (2009) Down’s syndrome screening in Northern Ireland: women’s reasons for accepting or declining serum testing Evidence Based Midwifery 7:3 76-83
  • McNeill J & Alderdice F (2009) The Perspective of Midwives Involved in Offering Serum Screening for Down’s syndrome in Northern Ireland Journal of Clinical Nursing 18:20 2888-2896
  • Alderdice F, McNeill J, Rowe R, Martin D & Dornan J (2008) Inequalities in the Reported Offer and Uptake of Antenatal Screening, Public Health 122 p42-52

Contact details for further information: Dr Jenny McNeill  j.mcneill@qub.ac.uk or 028 909874812

 

Title : Pregnancy-specific stress experienced by healthy, low-risk pregnant women

About the Project: This study aims to determine the level of pregnancy-related stress experienced by a group of healthy, low-risk pregnant women and to relate the level of stress with a number of maternal characteristics.  In addition, a review has been conducted of the instruments employed to assess stress in pregnancy, with particular attention on pregnancy-related stress measures.

Recent progress:

  • This study has been completed.
  • Journal articles relating to this research include:
  • Lynn, F., Alderdice, F., Crealey, G.E., McElnay, J. (2010).  Associations between maternal characteristics and pregnancy-related stress among low-risk mothers: an observational cross-sectional study.  International Journal of Nursing Studies, doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.10.002.
  • Alderdice, F., Lynn, F. (2010).  The factor structure of the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire.  Midwifery, doi:10.1016/j.midw.2010.05.003.
  • Lynn, F., Alderdice, F., Crealey, G.E., McElnay, J.  (2009).  Pregnancy-related stress in healthy, low-risk pregnancy: relationship with maternal characteristics.  Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 27 (3), 315-316.  Abstract.

Further dissemination, through oral presentation, includes:

29th Annual Conference, Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 9-10 September 2009.  Pregnancy-related stress in healthy, low-risk pregnancy: relationship with maternal characteristics.

Contact details: Dr Fiona Lynn Email: f.lynn@qub.ac.uk 

 

Title : The value of a third trimester ultrasound scan in low-risk pregnancy: a discrete choice approach

About the Project: This study aims to elicit maternal preferences for an additional routine ultrasound scan carried out after 24 weeks’ gestation.  The novel measurement method of stated preference discrete choice experiments is used to study maternal preferences, examine trade-offs between attributes of the service and identify associations with individual-specific characteristics, such as maternal age.

Recent progress:

  • This study has been completed.
  • Dissemination relating to this research, through oral presentation, includes:

International Confederation of Midwives 28th Triennial Congress, Glasgow, June 2008.  Investigating the value of an additional ultrasound after 24 weeks' gestation for women with uncomplicated pregnancies: A discrete choice experiment.

Contact details: Dr Fiona Lynn Email: f.lynn@qub.ac.uk 

 

Gender and sexual identities

 

Title: Young Life and Times

Young Life and Times (YLT). YLT is an annual study of 16-year olds undertaken by ARK – a joint Queens University Belfast and University of Ulster project - in Northern Ireland (www.ark.ac.uk/ylt). YLT covers a wide range of issues, but has also included questions on sexual attitudes and experiences of 16-year olds (e.g. sex education and sexual intercourse). YLT annually records data on sexual attraction of 16-year olds. Dirk Schubotz, who directs the YLT study, has worked on the issue of sexual identity formation and has co-authored publications based on the YLT study which evidence the relationship between same-sex attraction and issues such as poor mental health, self-harm and the experience of school bullying and social pressures.

Recent progress:

  • Schubotz, D. and O'Hara, M. 2010. A shared future? Exclusion, stigmatisation and mental health of same-sex-attracted young people in Northern Ireland, In: Youth and Society (forthcoming Sept 2010 issue)
  • Schubotz, D. 2010. The mental and emotional health of 16-year olds in Northern Ireland. Evidence from the Young Life and Times survey, Belfast, Patient and Client Council. Available online at: http://www.ark.ac.uk/ylt/results/PCC_YLT_mental_health_report.pdf
  • Schubotz, D. and McNamee, H. 2009. “I Knew I Wasn't Like Anybody Else”: Young Men's Accounts of Coming Out and Being Gay in Northern Ireland, In: Childcare in Practice, Vol. 15, No. 3, 193-208
  • McNamee, H., Lloyd, K. and Schubotz, D. 2008. Same sex attraction, homophobic bullying and mental health of young people in Northern Ireland, In: Journal of Youth Studies, Vol. 11, No. 1, 33-46.

Contact details for further information: Dr Dirk Schubotz D.Schubotz@qub.ac.uk

Title: Supporting LGBT Lives: A Study of the Mental Health and Well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People

About the Project This study aims to explore the mental health and well-being including an investigation of suicide vulnerability (risk) and resilience, of LGBT adults and young people in Ireland. The study was funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention.

Recent progress

  • This study has been completed and was launched by Mary Harney, Minister for Health in the Republic of Ireland.
  • The final report: Authors: Mayock, P.; Bryan, A.; Carr, N. & Kitching, K. (2009) “Supporting LGBT Lives: A Study of the Mental Health and Well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People.” Is available to download here.
  • Research presentation to National Union of Students ‘Pink Training’ Event – January 2010

Contact information: N.Carr@qub.ac.uk

top