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Our research

At The Kids Research Institute Australia, we've been thinking of the kids for 35 years. We are finding the answers to some of the biggest problems facing the health and wellbeing of children and families. Our Research Themes host defined programs of work where the Institute has clear strengths and capacity. Our overarching commitment to First Nations Health and Equity is embedded across all our work and features as a core consideration in each Research Theme. The Institute is committed to ending the disparity in health and wellbeing outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids and families.

Early support helps Stirling thrive

Amy Bertinshaw had a choice between ‘wait and see’ or seek help when she noticed her son Stirling was slower to meet developmental milestones at age 12 months.

New treatments on horizon for rarest child brain cancers

The WA Kids Cancer Centre has a suite of world-leading research projects to unlock new treatments for childhood cancers.

Research

Randomised controlled trials of behavioural nudges delivered through text messages to increase influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women (EPIC study) in Australia

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women is sub-optimal. We assessed the effectiveness of a multi-component behavioural nudge intervention to improve COVID-19 and influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women. 

Research

The Association Between Obesity and COVID-19 Severity in Children Differed Between SARS-CoV-2 Variants: A Multicountry Hospital-based Observational Study

Obesity was a risk factor for severe COVID-19 in children during early outbreaks of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and the Delta variant. However, the relationship between obesity and COVID-19 severity during the Omicron wave remains unclear.

Research

Perceived stigma and self-stigma in young people at ultra-high risk for psychosis: Associations with identity-related, psychological and functional outcomes

Perceived stigma and self-stigma negatively affect identity-related, psychological and functional outcomes among stigmatised populations. There is limited research exploring the impact of stigma among young people at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. We investigated the association of perceived stigma and self-stigma with these outcomes in young people at UHR.

Research

Accuracy of a 2-minute eye-tracking assessment to differentiate young children with and without autism

Eye-tracking could expedite autism identification/diagnosis through standardisation and objectivity. We tested whether Gazefinder autism assessment, with Classification Algorithm derived from gaze fixation durations, would have good accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] ≥ 0.80) to differentiate 2-4-year-old autistic from non-autistic children.

Research

Intrafamilial Maltreatment of People with Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review

People with intellectual disability experience a greater risk of maltreatment than people without intellectual disability. Maltreatment by family members presents additional risks, including greater possibilities for concealment. This scoping reviewResults were summarized in both narrative and tabular formats summarizes extant knowledge about the familial maltreatment of people with intellectual disability and identifies gaps in the literature.

Research

Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/hyperkinetic disorder of pediatric and adult populations in clinical settings: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)/Hyperkinetic Disorder (HD) is linked to increased risks of morbidity, comorbidity and mortality, with higher prevalence in clinical populations. The differential prevalence of ADHD/HD across adult and pediatric clinical populations, influenced by factors such as time trends, sex, age, geographic regions, and comorbidities, has not been systematically assessed.

Research

Local progress towards achieving the End TB targets in Ethiopia: A geospatial analysis

Country-level estimates can mask local geographic variations in progress toward achieving World Health Organization's End TB targets. This study aimed to identify spatial variations in progress toward achieving the TB incidence reduction target at a district level in Ethiopia.