Social Determinants of Perinatal Health Outcomes

Perinatal health outcomes are shaped by complex interactions between social, economic, and environmental factors that extend well beyond clinical care. Despite growing recognition of social determinants of health (SDoH), there remain significant gaps in understanding how these factors operate specifically during the perinatal period and their long-term consequences for maternal and child health outcomes. Project Overview: This project will investigate the role of social determinants in shaping perinatal health outcomes across the Australian population. Using large-scale longitudinal datasets, the student will employ epidemiological methods to examine how factors such as social support networks, socioeconomic position, geographic location, and community resources influence maternal and infant health trajectories from pregnancy through the extended postpartum period. Potential Research Directions: - Geographic and socioeconomic inequalities in perinatal health outcomes - Social support systems as determinants of maternal mental health and wellbeing - Community-level factors influencing perinatal health across diverse populations - Long-term health consequences of perinatal social determinant exposures - Policy and intervention implications for addressing perinatal health inequities This project will be undertaken with industry involvement.