Asthma in pregnancy toolkit rolls out to help stop flare-ups
A world first Asthma and Pregnancy Toolkit designed to improve the health of pregnant women and their babies will be rolled out across the ACT.
Developed by HMRI and University of Newcastle researchers, the toolkit is designed to ensure that health care professionals have access to the most up to date evidence-based treatments for pregnant women.
Around 13 per cent of pregnant Australian women have asthma, and up to 50 per cent of these women will need to seek medical help for an asthma flare-up during pregnancy.
Beyond the risk asthma flare-ups pose to the health of the mother, poorly managed asthma can also have health impacts for the unborn child – including a higher risk of developing asthma.
Associate Professor Vanessa Murphy from the HMRI Asthma and Breathing program said HMRI was a world leader in Asthma research with over 20 years of discoveries in this field.
“We worked with over 50 experts from around the world and created the Asthma in Pregnancy Toolkit to bring all the evidence-based information together in one place,” Associate Professor Murphy said.
“The toolkit is an easily accessed, accurate reference tool for health professionals involved in pregnancy care, including GPs, midwives and obstetricians. There are also resources available for families.”
A pilot health promotion program aligning with the Toolkit will roll out in Canberra in 2023 featuring a public awareness campaign and community workshops for health professionals. This program is funded as part of the ACT Health Promotions Grant Program and will be conducted in partnership with Asthma Australia.
“Our research has helped to understand that mothers with asthma are at increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, but that the best outcomes for mother and baby are achieved with active asthma management in pregnancy,” Associate Professor Murphy said.
Associate Professor Murphy said some women stop taking Asthma prevention medication due to concerns it might harm their unborn child.
“The truth is there is a greater risk to the baby if the mum stops taking their medication,” Associate Professor Murphy said.
“Our research shows that asthma medications are safe during pregnancy but asthma flare-ups can be very dangerous.”
The Asthma in Pregnancy Toolkit was developed in partnership with the University of Newcastle’s Centre of Excellence in Treatable Traits and was launched online today.
The toolkit was supported by funds from the Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundations.
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