About Maternal and Child Health

Improving the health and well-being of mothers and young children, particularly at critical stages in the life course, such as pregnancy and early life, is key to promoting health and reducing an individual’s later risk of chronic illness or impaired development.

Irish research is making an important contribution nationally and internationally in maternal and child health. For example, the MAMMI Study is investigating the health and health issues of women during pregnancy and during the first year after the birth of their first baby, while the CHErIsH study, is systematically developing, implementing and evaluating a pilot complex intervention to promote healthy infant feeding practices in primary care. Such research is supporting key health policies within Ireland such as the National Maternity Strategy; Healthy Ireland Policies in health, obesity, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, and sexual health; Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People; First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.

Maternal and child health are impacted by a range of health care, social, and economic issues, thus multifaceted approaches are needed to improve them.  This collection invites research to be submitted on the many facets of maternal and child health and welcomes a broad scope of outputs from, but not limited to: midwifery, nursing, obstetrics, gynaecology, prenatal medicine, neonatology, pediatrics, nutrition, psychology, epidemiology, public health, health policy, health economics, and sociology.

This collection also encourages submissions on paternal health, particularly in relation to child health + development and mental health.

Collection Advisor

Marita Hennessy

Marita Hennessy is a Health Research Board-funded SPHeRE Scholar within the Health Behaviour Change Research Group in the School of Psychology at NUI Galway where she is investigating health professional-delivered early life obesity prevention interventions. Her research interests include maternal and child health, obesity, nutrition, weight stigma, health inequalities, men’s health, commercial determinants of health, health behaviour change interventions, and implementation science. She is experienced in a range of research methods including qualitative, mixed methods, systematic review, and creative approaches.