TU Dublin Researcher Secures €204K HRB Grant for Novel Study on Breastfeeding in Ireland
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A TU Dublin Lecturer in Nutrition, Dr Liz O’Sullivan, has been awarded €204,626 in funding by the Health Research Board (HRB) for her innovative research project focused on improving breastfeeding rates in Ireland. This prestigious Secondary Data Analysis Project award will support Dr O'Sullivan in her efforts to explore the demographic and healthcare factors associated with breastfeeding in Ireland, and to develop a national infant feeding survey tool.
Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board, said:
The HRB is committed to advancing health and social care research to improve people’s health and the care that they receive. Dr O’Sullivan’s project will help achieve this by understanding the key factors influencing breastfeeding practices in Ireland to help inform and support decision-making among parents
Through the collaborative study, she will work with experts from the Health Service Executive, the Health Information Quality Authority, the Central Statistics Office, University College Dublin, University of Galway, ATU and a PPI group, Bainne Beatha, to collect and analyse data from multiple sources.
Associate Professor Mary Hunt, Interim Dean, Faculty of Sciences and Health at TU Dublin, congratulated Dr O'Sullivan on her achievement, stating:
This is a fantastic accomplishment for Dr O'Sullivan, who is passionate about improving breastfeeding rates in Ireland, and it is a testament to her dedication to improving public health through evidence-based research. We are incredibly proud to support this important project, which has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of Irish families
Dr O'Sullivan’s project, titled ‘Exploring the demographic and healthcare factors associated with breastfeeding in Ireland; a gap analysis to develop a national infant feeding survey tool,’ will provide valuable insights into Ireland’s breastfeeding rates. By combining statistical analysis of demographic characteristics with qualitative data gathered from parents, the study aims to understand the barriers to breastfeeding and identify ways parents can be better supported with infant feeding.
Dr O'Sullivan remarked:
I am thrilled to receive this funding and to work on this important issue with such a distinguished team across multiple fields. Understanding why breastfeeding rates are lower in Ireland than other countries is crucial to guiding future policy and supporting families with their feeding decisions
The research will culminate in the development of a new, more relevant data collection tool that could shape future national infant feeding policies and practices, improving healthcare outcomes for families across Ireland and beyond.