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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

 
 


Research project

Ms Heather McKay
B.Sc. Optom., Grad Dip Wom. Hlth., PhD Candidate

Doctoral Thesis: Childlessness and the Role of Choice in Childless Women's Reproductive Outcome.
Supervisor: Dr Jane Fisher
Associate supervisor: Professor Christina Lee
University: Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, University of Melbourne

Australia's fertility rate has been declining since the early 1970s. This is thought to be a result of both women having fewer children, and more women remaining childless. Results from ALSWH, however, indicate that 91% of the older and mid-age cohorts have had children, and 91% of the younger cohort intend to have at least one child by the age of 35. Even though it is predicted that the proportion of Australian women who will not give birth to a child will increase, and the number of women choosing this life course is of ongoing interest, we know little about women's experience of this phenomenon.

This research aims to provide a better understanding of childlessness amongst mid-age Australian women. It seeks to increase our understanding of the reasons why childless women may not have given birth to a child, the role of choice in this reproductive outcome, and their feelings, both positive and negative, about being childless.

To complement data already collected by Women's Health Australia, a sub-survey was designed to investigate these issues. In 2002, 535 sub-surveys, along with invitations to participate in the study, were mailed to eligible women in the mid-age group who had already indicated they have never given birth to a child. The response rate has been around 80%. In 2003 data entry and analysis will be undertaken.


To contact Heather:
Heather McKay
Key Centre for Women's Health in Society,
School of Population Health,
The University of Melbourne,
Victoria   3010,
Australia. 

Email: h.mckay@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Link to Project Aims page Link to Project Progress page Link to Project Methods page Link to Project Progress page 		 


 
 

Last updated: 16 July 2004 by Timothy Neve © Copyright