TU Dublin Researcher Dr Liz O’Sullivan Secures €204K Health Research Board Grant for Novel Study on Breastfeeding in Ireland
Dr Liz O'Sullivan a TU Dublin Lecturer in Nutrition in the School of Biological, Health and Sports Sciences and the Faculty of Sciences and Health, 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 HRB 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.
The HRB is committed to advancing health and social care research with a goal of improving people’s lives, and Dr O’Sullivan’s project aligns with this mission by investigating key factors influencing breastfeeding practices in Ireland. 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, Head of the School of Biological, Health and Sports Sciences, 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.
Further Information
- Title of Project: ‘Exploring the demographic and healthcare factors associated with breastfeeding in Ireland; a gap analysis to develop a national infant feeding survey tool.’
- Award Amount: €204,626.00
- Overview of Project: The study will involve combining data from multiple sources—the Health Service Executive, the Health Information Quality Authority, the Central Statistics Office, and academic researchers—to understand the low breastfeeding rates in Ireland. Ultimately, the team will propose a new data collection tool so that officials can collect information about breastfeeding that is relevant to Irish families. This study design will allow Dr O’Sullivan and colleagues to statistically explore the association between demographic characteristics and healthcare-related variables and breastfeeding outcomes. In addition, qualitative analyses of written information provided by parents on surveys will also help us understand characteristics, practices, and behaviours associated with breastfeeding from the perspective of mothers (as opposed to those considered relevant by researchers). A deeper understanding of the reasons for Ireland’s low breastfeeding rates will help us develop a new data collection tool.