make a difference … have your voice heard on women’s health

Women from the Indian community are not well-represented in health research. So, how do we ensure they don’t get left out When the government makes essential decisions affecting women's health?

HISTORICALLy, women have not been adequately represented in health research. As Indian women, we have even less visibility. Australia’s health policies and disease management guidelines are primarily based on data from people with a European heritage. Still, this one-size-fits-all approach to developing health policy is no longer appropriate. Times are changing, and we now know that people from different ethnic backgrounds have different risk levels for some diseases. For example, women of Indian heritage have higher risks of diabetes and heart disease. We are also likely to experience different types of menopausal symptoms in women from European backgrounds.

Professor Gita Mishra is the director of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health at The University of Queensland. She believes improving the representation of Indian Australian women is crucial so the government can tailor health services to our community’s needs.

“Good policy is based on research,” said Professor Mishra.

Research provides the information needed to make the best decision, which is why it must include the voices of all people. The Australian Government funds research programs to gather information on the population's healthcare needs. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health is one such program. Over 57,000 women have completed surveys on their health and well-being since the Study began in 1996, making it the most significant, longestrunning research project in Australia.

“The information our participants share through the health surveys has been used to develop federal and state government policies across a wide range of issues impacting women’s health and the services they use,” said Professor Mishra.

The study is longitudinal, meaning that it regularly surveys these same women every few years. Over time, this builds a detailed picture of how women’s health and their health service needs change from puberty and young adulthood through to their child-bearing years, menopause, and into older age.

The women participating in this research represented the Australian population when the study started, but 25 years of immigration have changed Australia’s cultural makeup. India is now the top country of birth among permanent migrants to Australia. Roughly 3 out of every 100 people in Australia have Indian heritage. However, less than 1 in 1000 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health have Indian origins.

To ensure that the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health remains representative of all Australians, the study recruits new participants from the Indian community.

Reema Naresh leads the engagement and recruitment campaign for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our community’s voices to be properly represented,” said Ms Naresh.

She feels the survey’s holistic approach to health will resonate with Indian Australian women.

“As a culture, we understand that well-being is more than medicines and physical symptoms.

So, it’s exciting to be part of this huge project that recognises all the social, psychological, economic, and environmental factors that influence women’s wellbeing.”

She is excited about the potential for the research project to improve healthcare for the mothers, daughters, aunties, and grandmothers of not only the Indian community but all women in the community.

“It is an opportunity to be part of something much bigger than yourself,” says Ms Naresh.

Visit us at our stall at the India Day Fair on August 19th at Roma Street Parklands to learn more about the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health.

Members of the team look forward to meeting you.

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health recruitment drive is open to women aged 28-24 (born 1989-1995) and 45-50 (born 1973-1978).

To participate in Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, visit www.alswh.org.au/joinwomen's-health-Australia/ or https://bit.ly/44Ytvam

For more details, contact Reema Naresh via alswh@ uq.edu.au.