Epidemiology and Research
An important aspect of the work done by the Public Health Unit is ongoing research in public health related areas. The Public Health Unit is composed of teams with broad responsibility for public health epidemiology, surveillance and regulation, disease control, environmental health, food safety and improving immunisation coverage in the community. In addition to these statutory roles, the Cancer Control Program and Research & Epidemiology Team further promote research and epidemiological skills within the Unit.
The Cancer Control program is primarily concerned with evaluation of the carcinogenic hazard posed by environmental contaminants in a variety of contexts, Matters addressed include hazards in food, occupational exposures and atmospheric pollutants including tobacco smoke. An assessment of the impact of cancer worldwide was prepared for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2003.
Projects undertaken by the Infectious Diseases Team include enhanced surveillance to determine the incidence of and risk factors for new hepatitis C and syphilis infections, as well as the development of improved guidelines for public health management of meningococcal infection.
Current research by the Environmental Health Team is focussed on environmental standards related to disease control, on environmental tobacco smoke exposure and on health standards in boarding houses. Recent research was completed on the problem posed by various atmospheric contaminants including determination of the extent of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke which occurs in licensed clubs and exposure to engine exhausts in the course of using particular vehicle tunnels in NSW. The Environmental Health Team has also recently researched the quality of private water supplies and their compliance with drinking water standards.
In recent years the Research Team has studied the health of children accompanying homeless women and has begun projects related to improving use of indigenous identifiers in health datasets. The Unit often collaborates with other agencies in research aimed at improving our knowledge of how relevant diseases can be prevented, and how preventative services can be best delivered.
Useful Links
Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Health
The Health of the People of New South Wales: Report of the Chief Health Officer
New South Wales Health Survey Program
Disclaimer: The links above are to agencies and other organisations that contain useful information. These links do not imply any endorsement, support or commercial gain by South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service or NSW Health Services or the State of New South Wales. See our Disclaimer for more information.