2009 major Report

This report focuses on the reproductive health of women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH). The report was developed on the basis of discussions between the ALSWH research team and the staff of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and has the broad aim of examining reproductive health among Australian women of child bearing ages.

The broad aim of this report is to examine reproductive health among women using eleven years of data from the 1973-1978 cohort of women, from when they were aged 18-23 years at Survey 1 in 1996 to 28-33 years at Survey 4 in 2006. Specifically, this report examines:
1. Patterns of contraception over time.
2. Women’s aspirations for motherhood and the factors associated with fulfilling or modifying aspirations.
3. Reproductive histories, problems with fertility and related treatment and advice-seeking behaviour.
4. Factors associated with maternal health and wellbeing, particularly postnatal depression.
5. Factors associated with maternal health behaviours, including diet and physical activity, medication use, alcohol and tobacco use.
6. Motherhood and participation in the paid workforce.