Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations University of Queenlsand Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations

 
 


Overview of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, (ALSWH, also known as Women’s Health Australia), is a longitudinal health survey study of three age groups of Australian women and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. By taking a social view of health, the study aims to determine the social, psychological, physical and environmental factors that determine good health, and those that cause ill-health, in women throughout adult life, in order to contribute to the development of policy and practice in key areas for women’s health.

In 1996, when the survey was first administered, over 40,000 women then aged 18-23, 45-50, and 70-75, took part. The women who take part in the study are broadly representative of women in Australia within the age groups (see Lee; Brown). Each cohort initially represented between 2 and 3 per cent of its total age category of women in Australia. Figure 1 shows the distribution of participants across the country, with each dot representing a postcode where at least on participant is located.

Since 1996, the women have been resurveyed every three years on a rolling basis. In 2008 the Older cohort will be surveyed for the fifth time, the pilot test for the fifth survey of the Younger cohort (to be conducted in 2009) will be undertaken, and analyses of the Mid-age cohort fifth survey data, collected in 2007, will begin. Throughout 2008 some of the study’s findings will be featured each month, both in a calendar and on our website.

Location of ALSWH participants

 

For further information about the conduct of the ASLWH, see the our other publications:

  • Brown WJ, Bryson L, Byles JE, Dobson AJ, Manderson L, Schofield M & Williams G. Women’s Health Australia: Establishment of the Australian Longitudinal Study On Women’s Health. Journal of Women’s Health, 1996; 5(5): 467-4.
  • Bryson L. The Women’s Health Australia project and policy development. Australian Journal of Primary Health - Interchange, 1998; 4(3): 59-71.
  • Brown WJ, Dobson AJ, Bryson L & Byles JE. Women's Health Australia: On the progress of the main cohort studies. Journal of Women's Health and Gender-based Medicine, 1999; 8(5): 681-688.
  • Lee C, Dobson AJ, Brown WJ, Bryson L, Byles J, Warner-Smith P & Young AF. Cohort profile: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. International Journal of Epidemiology, 2005; 34: 987-991.

 

Over the course of 2008 the ALSWH will be highlighting study findings on a featured topic each month. The most current findings will be uploaded at the start of each month, but for a preview of the topics that will be covered, please access the link below.



 
Link to Project Aims page Link to Project Progress page Link to Project Methods page Link to Project Progress page 		 


 

Last updated: 10th January 2008 by Cath Chojenta © Copyright