Specialization

Focus of research

At the following three institutions:

  1. Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc), Department Midwifery Science AVAG, Public Health and Research Institute
  2. University Medical Center Groningen (department General Practice & Elderly Medicine, section Midwifery Science)
  3. Western Sydney University (School of Nursing and Midwifery)

I conduct research in the area of the Women's Health Epidemiology. I examine the effect of (lifestyle) behavior, pregnancy and birth events on maternal and children's health. Therefore, I analyze large datasets of international population based data registries (e.g. Australian New South Wales linked data, Birthplace Study, Dutch Perinatal Data Registry), and cohort data (i.e. Lifelines Next, Lifelines ROAHD). By analyzing these data, I aim to develop models to optimize the use of clinical resources and optimize maternal health and birth outcomes. The accompanying results will contribute to improve maternity care, by providing future maternal care in the right amount of care at the right time in the right way to childbearing women and their (unborn) babies.

In all of my projects, I collaborate intensively with different stakeholders i.e. (inter)national multidisciplinary researchers, healthcare professionals and women. Especially, the involement of women (with low SES) in the development of interventions ensuring an optimal implementation in daily practice is important in my projects.