How a breastfeeding initiative in rural Kenya changed attitudes
Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both baby and mother. But it can also can be difficult to sustain exclusively without support.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on child health
Displaying 1 - 20 of 74 articles
Why family planning matters for maternal deaths and child survival
Strong political support, community engagement and effective strategies can improve access to family planning in developing countries.
Curious Kids: My tooth fell out. Why is it so spiky on the bottom?
Nicholas, aged 6, was watching TV one day when his tooth fell out. He noticed that the bottom edge of the tooth was very spiky. Now he wants to know why.
Why we don’t know what causes most birth defects
We still don't know what's behind four out of every five birth defects. But that can change.
How we can help refugee kids to thrive in Australia
New research into the health of newly arrived refugee children in Australia gives us clues about how we can help all refugee kids.
Why resilience matters for schools trying to thrive in tough situations
Schools that have supportive strategies in place can offer buffers. They can promote positive outcomes -- for pupils and teachers.
Should I stop taking Prozac if I’m pregnant?
A study has shown an association between antidepressants in pregnancy and risk to the baby. But there are many factors to consider if deciding whether to stay on an antidepressant if you're pregnant.
How Boko Haram is devastating health services in North-East Nigeria
More than 788 health facilities have been destroyed in parts of North-Eastern Nigeria captured by Boko Haram insurgents, crippling health services in the area.
‘Kangaroo mother care’ helps preterm babies survive … but offers benefits for all
Kangaroo mother care: the long-term benefits of closeness in the early days of life.
Bribing kids to eat vegetables is not sustainable – here’s what to do instead
Here are some tips to get your picky eater into lifelong healthy habits.
Schools shouldn’t be left alone to deal with child health and well-being any longer
If we want our children to stay healthy, we need to start making it a priority for schools.
When men tackle mother and child health: lessons from Malawi
A study in Malawi shows how the participation of local community leaders in policy development can change men's attitudes to maternal and child health for the better.
Zika ‘health emergency’ status removed but it’s sad news for reproductive health
The World Health Organisation no longer sees Zika as a health emergency. But what does this downgrade mean for the health of mothers and babies?
Kids who watch porn won’t necessarily turn into sex offenders
There's no evidence that the increase in children committing sexual offences is because they watch online porn.
Babies born to overweight mothers more likely to get age-related diseases sooner
Overweight women have a higher risk of delivering biologically older babies who are are more susceptible to age-related conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes in later life.
Explainer: what is dyspraxia and how is it different to clumsiness?
Most of us learn to tie our shoelaces, dress ourselves and eat with cutlery with relative ease. But for children with dyspraxia, these tasks are incredibly difficult to master.
Let’s address the perfect storm of factors leading to obesity in disadvantaged children
Childhood obesity is increasing and is most common for children living in disadvantage. But it's preventable if we begin from the start of life.
Explainer: what causes knock knees and do they have to be treated?
Knock knees (and bow legs) are generally a normal part of a child’s growth and development. But if they persist, they can become problematic.
Why is trachoma blinding Aboriginal children when mainstream Australia eliminated it 100 years ago?
Trachoma easily spreads from one child to another through infected eye and nose secretions. A person may have up to 40 episodes of reinfection during childhood.
When parents disagree with doctors on a child’s treatment, who should have the final say?
It is ethical for doctors to accept a treatment option parents want – providing it is good enough – rather than insisting on what they believe is the best possible treatment for the child.
Top contributors
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Professor, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, University of Sydney
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Clinical Senior Lecturer at Deakin University School of Medicine & Pain Specialist, Deakin University
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Senior Research Scientist & Head of Antiviral Sensitivity Analysis, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza
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Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University
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Associate Professor, City University of New York
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Professor of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UNSW
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Clinical Affiliate, University of Sydney
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Medical Director, Grace Centre for Newborn Care, Macquarie Group Foundation Chair of Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Alliance, University of Sydney
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Senior lecturer, Victoria University
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Professor of Psychology, University of Melbourne
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Senior Lecturer/Course Convenor in Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University
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Professor, School of Public Health and Social Work; School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology
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Research Fellow in Ethics, University of Melbourne
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Professor of International Health, Burnet Institute
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Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC) & Associate Investigator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Systems Science, UNSW
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