MYPS: The Mothers’ and Young People’s Study
The Mothers’ and Young People’s Study (formerly known as Maternal Health Study) is a multi-wave, prospective cohort study investigating the health and well-being of over 1500 first-time mothers and their firstborn children. Women were recruited to the study from six Melbourne metropolitan hospitals between 2003-2005.In the early years of the study the main focus was on women’s health and recovery after childbirth. Women taking part in the study completed questionnaires and telephone interviews in early and late pregnancy, and at three, six, nine, 12 and 18 months postpartum, and when their first child was four and ten years of age. Over 800 women in the study have also been followed up after second and subsequent births.
Data have been collected on common maternal physical and psychological health problems, including incontinence, sexual health problems, depression, anxiety and intimate partner abuse, and on a range of child health and developmental outcomes. We have also collected information regarding the social context of women and children, and changing life circumstances as the children grow up.
In 2022, we will be commencing follow-up of mothers and young people as the study children turn 18 years old.
The study aims to improve understanding of social and obstetric factors influencing maternal and child health. The information collected is being used to inform policy and practice in maternity care, early childhood services and primary health care.
| Study Summary | |
|---|---|
| Study name | The Mothers’ and Young People’s Study (formerly known as Maternal Health Study) |
| Study abbreviation | MYPS |
| Current principal investigator/s | Prof Stephanie Brown |
| Current project manager | Dr Deirdre Gartland |
| Primary institution | Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
| Collaborating institution/s | University of Melbourne Judith Lumley Centre University of Birmingham |
| Major funding sources | National Health and Medical Research Council VicHealth Public Health Research Fellowship Medical Research and Technology in Victoria Fund William Buckland Foundation La Trobe University |
| Study website | https://www.mcri.edu.au/research/projects/maternal-health-study |
| Key reference for study (published study protocol) | Brown, S. J., Gartland, D., Woolhouse, H., Giallo, R., McDonald, E., Seymour, M., … & Mensah, F. (2021). The maternal health study: Study design update for a prospective cohort of first‐time mothers and their firstborn children from birth to age ten. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12757. |
| Are data available to others outside study team? | Collaborative access with appropriate ethics and governance processes and safeguards as outlined in protocol |
| Study focus (e.g. social development) | Women’s physical and psychological health and recovery after childbirth |
| Sampling frame | Prospective pregnancy cohort of >1500 nulliparous women recruited in early pregnancy at six metropolitan public hospitals in Melbourne (April 2003 – December 2005) |
| Study type (e.g. randomised control trial, cohort, case-control) | Longitudinal mother and child cohort study |
| Year commenced | 2003 |
| Commencement sample (N) | 1507 |
| Ongoing recruitment? | No |
| Retention rate (%) | W2 – 98.0% W3 – 95.0% W4 – 92.9% W5 – 92.0% W6 – 90.0% W7 – 88.1% W11 – 83.4% |
| Intergenerational (e.g. offspring)? | Yes |
| Imaging (e.g. fMRI, ultrasound, retinal photograph)? | No |
| Linkage (e.g. BioGrid, VPDC, NAPLAN, Medicare)? | No |
| Biosamples (e.g. buccal, blood, hair)? | No |
| Ethics approvals or requirements (e.g. specific, extended, unspecified, other)? | This project only (Specific consent) |
| Wave | Year | Age (mean, range) | Eligible sample (not deceased, not withdrawn) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003-2005 | Baseline (10-20 weeks gestation) | 1507 |
| 2 | 2003-2005 | 30-32 weeks gestation (index child) | 1454 |
| 3 | 2003-2006 | 3 months postpartum (index child) | 1431 |
| 4 | 2004-2007 | 6 months postpartum (index child) | 1400 |
| 5 | 2004-2007 | 9 months postpartum (index child) | 1387 |
| 6 | 2004-2006 | 12 months postpartum (index child) | 1357 |
| 7 | 2005-2008 | 18 months postpartum (index child) | 1327 |
| 8 | 2005-ongoing | 6 months postpartum (second child) | 840 (ongoing) |
| 9 | 2006-ongoing | 12 months postpartum (second child) | 840 (ongoing) |
| 10 | 2008-2011 | 4 years postpartum (index child) | 1102 |
| 11 | 2006-ongoing | 6 months postpartum (third birth) | 214 (ongoing) |
| 12 | 2007-ongoing | 12 months postpartum (third birth) | 222 (ongoing) |
| 13 | 2007-ongoing | 6 months postpartum (fourth birth) | 29 (ongoing) |
| 14 | 2008-ongoing | 12 months postpartum (fourth birth) | 32 (ongoing) |
| 15 | 2013-ongoing | 10 years postpartum (index child) | 952 mothers (mailed questionnaire) 615 mother-child pairs (face-to-face assessments) |
| 16 | 2022-ongoing | 18 years postpartum (index child) | 1143 mothers 1142 young people (commencing 2022) |
Group Leader and NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
Professor Stephanie Brown
Ph: +61 3 9936 6675
Email: stephanie.brown@mcri.edu.au
Research Fellow
Dr. Deirdre Gartland
Ph: +61 3 9936 6618
Email: deirdre.gartland@mcri.edu.au
Postal Address
Intergenerational Health Group
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
West Level 5, Royal Children’s Hospital
50 Flemington Rd
Parkville
VIC, 3052