Perinatal opportunities for addressing complex intergenerational trauma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Affiliation(s)
(Chamberlain) La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
Year
2019
Citation
Obstetric Medicine. Vol.12(Suppl 2), 2019.
Journal
Obstetric Medicine
Conference name
Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting
Conference location
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Grant information
Abstract
Complex childhood trauma can have profound and ongoing impacts on development and physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Aboriginal people are particularly affected due to a legacy of violence and destructive policies associated with colonisation. The long-lasting relational effects may be triggered during the transition to parenthood, causing emotional distress and impede the capacity of parents to nurture theirchildren. Conversely, the transition to parenthood offers a unique lifecourse opportunity for healing and preventing intergenerational transmission, even after severe trauma. Yet, despite these opportunities forhealing, particularly during frequent scheduled contacts with health care providers; and the risk of triggering due to the intimate nature of perinatal care - there are currently no systematic perinatal strategies for identifying and supporting parents experiencing complex childhood trauma. In this presentation, Associate Professor Chamberlain will: Outline the physiology and epidemiology of complex trauma, with aspecific focus on the impacts on health and health equity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Discuss the important opportunities during the perinatal period, including findings from a comprehensive systematic review of the views of parents who have experienced maltreatment in their own childhood. Briefly introduce an Aboriginal-led NHMRC and Lowitja Institute funded project - Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future - which aims to co-design culturally acceptable and feasible perinatal awareness, recognition, assessment and support strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents who have experienced complexchildhood trauma
PubMed ID
Type
Conference Abstract
Study type
Subjects
Maternal health
Adverse childhood experiences
Adverse childhood experiences