Home
Research Program
Staff and Students
Research Publications
Annual Reports
Newsletters
Education and Capacity Building
Advocacy
Lunchtime Seminars
Postgraduate Study
Contact Us
 
 
The Faculty
The University
 
 
 
 
 
Angela Taft Dr Angela Taft
BA, Dip Ed (Melbourne), MPH (Monash), PhD (ANU)

Associate Professor

 
Email: a.taft@latrobe.edu.au
Telephone: +61 3 8341 8571
 
Angela Taft is a Principal Research Fellow/Associate Professor at MCHR and has been with the centre since 1999. She is also an Honorary Fellow in the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne and the National Convenor of the Women's Health SIG of the Public Health Association of Australia. She is a social scientist with a strong interest in rigorous combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to answer complex questions about women's health.

Over the last ten years she has led a major competitively funded program of research at MCHR on intimate partner/gender-based violence. This has included analysing the health impact of IPV over time in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health, Cochrane systematic reviews and randomised trials of IPV interventions in general practice and maternal and child health nursing. She is strongly interested in preventing the harm to Safe Motherhood from gender-based violence.
   
MAJOR RESEARCH     
INTERESTS     
Intimate partner violence; Health impact of, and health system responses to violence against women and children; sexual and reproductive health; cultural diversity and violence.
   
CURRENT PROJECTS     
MOSAIC (MOtherS' Advocates In the Community) a cluster randomised trial
Team: Angela Taft, Rhonda Small, Lyn Watson and previously with Judith Lumley; in collaboration with Kelsey Hegarty, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne;and Lisa Gold, Deakin University
Funding: NHMRC, VicHealth, Community Support Grants Fund, beyondblue
Status: Study completed, analysis of interview data continuing; primary outcomes paper and economic methods paper published in 2011
   
 
A study of the provision of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) over-the-counter (OTC) in Australia
Team: Angela Taft, MCHR; Kay Stewart, Monash University; Lisa Amir, MCHR; Colin Chapman, Monash University; previously with Judith Lumley, MCHR; Julia Shelley, Deakin University; Anthony Smith, ARCSHS, La Trobe University; Melissa Hobbs, MCHR; SafeeraHussainy, Monash University
Funding: Australian Research Council Linkage Grant
Status: Three articles, one letter,and an editorial published in 2011; follow-up study on prevention of unplanned pregnancy in general practice submitted to ARC with the same and new partner organisations
   
 
Improving maternal and child health nurse care for vulnerable mothers (MOVE)
Team: Angela Taft and Rhonda Small; Cathy Humphreys and Kelsey Hegarty,The University of Melbourne; Leesa Hooker
Funding: ARC Linkage Project 2008-2011
Status: Implementation and survey data collection complete; interviews with stakeholders and survey data analysis under way
   
 
Pathways to pregnancy termination among 5 waves of the Younger Cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health
Team: Angela Taft, Lyn Watson, Paul Agius, Melissa Hobbs; Jayne Lucke, University of Queensland; Danielle Mazza, Department of General Practice, Monash University; Kathleen McNamee, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne; Jill Michelson, Marie Stopes International Australia; Joanne Ramadge, Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia
Funding: La Trobe University Faculty of Health Sciences Research Grant
Status: commenced
   
Systematic Reviews      
Interventions to reduce or eliminate violence and promote the physical and psychosocial well-being of women who experience intimate partner abuse: a suite of systematic reviews
Team: Jean Ramsey, Gene Feder, Department of Primary and Community Medicine, Bristol University; Leslie Davidson, Department of Population and Family Health, Joseph L Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University; Kelsey Hegarty and Lorna O'Doherty, Department of General Practice and Public Health, University of Melbourne; and Angela Taft, MCHR
Funding: UK NHS, Cochrane Collaboration (Health Promotion), VicHealth, and La Trobe University Faculty of Health Sciences Research Grant
Status: On-going;two protocols and one systematic review of advocacy interventions published; screening review led by Angela Taft drafted and submitted
   
Collaborative Work      
Women's experience of abuse and violence (WEAVE)
Team: Kelsey Hegarty and Jane Gunn, Department of General Practice and Public Health, The University of Melbourne; Angela Taft, MCHR; Gene Feder, Department of Primary and Community Medicine, Bristol University; Jill Astbury, Victoria University; Stephanie Brown, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Ann Taket, Lisa Gold, Deakin University
Funding: WEAVE 1: NHMRC 2008–2010; WEAVE 2: NHMRC 2010–2012
Status: WEAVE 1 data analysis complete; two papers published, one accepted, outcomes paper submitted
PUBLICATIONS
 

Taft A. Primary care-based training and support interventions are successful in increasing identification and referral of women experiencing domestic violence. Evidence Based Nursing 2012:100517. Epub 2012, May 6. Available from: http://ebn.bmj.com/content/early/2012/05/05/ebnurs-2012-100517.short

Signorelli MC, Taft A, Pereira PPG. Intimate partner violence against women and healthcare in Australia: charting the scene. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva 2012;17(4):1037-48. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81232012000400025

McNair RP, Hegarty K, Taft A. From silence to sensitivity: A new Identity Disclosure model to facilitate disclosure for same-sex attracted women in general practice consultations. Social Science and Medicine 2012;75(1):208-16. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953612002237

Taft AJ, Small R, Hegarty KL, Watson LF, Gold L, Lumley JA. Mothers' AdvocateS In the Community (MOSAIC) -non-professional mentor support to reduce intimate partner violence and depression in mothers: a cluster randomised trial in primary care. BMC Public Health 2011; 11: 178. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/178

Taft AJ, Hobbs MK, Hussainy SY, Amir LH, Stewart K, Smith AM, Shelley JM, Chapman CB. Unintended pregnancy in Australia: what more can we do? Med J Aust 2011;195(4):166-7. Available from: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/195_04_150811/taf10270_fm.html

Taft A, Bandyopadhyay M. Introduction to COMPASS: navigating complexity in public health research. BMC Public Health 2011; 11(Suppl 5): S1. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/S5/S1

Small R, Taft AJ, Brown SJ. The power of social connection and support in improving health: lessons from social support interventions with childbearing women. BMC Public Health 2011; 11(Suppl 5): S4. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/S5/S4

Palmer VJ, Yelland JS, Taft AJ. Ethical complexities of screening for depression and intimate partner violence (IPV) in intervention studies. BMC Public Health 2011; 11(Suppl 5): S3. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/11/S5/S3

Hussainy SY, Stewart K, Chapman CB, Taft AJ, Amir LH, Hobbs MK, Shelley JM, Smith AM. Provision of the emergency contraceptive pill without prescription: attitudes and practices of pharmacists in Australia. Contraception 2011;83(2):159-66. Available from: http://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(10)00398-7/abstract

Hobbs MK, Taft AJ, Amir LH, Stewart K, Shelley JM, Smith AM, Chapman CB, Hussainy SY. Pharmacy access to the emergency contraceptive pill: a national survey of a random sample of Australian women. Contraception 2011;83(2):151-8. Available from: http://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(10)00356-2/abstract

Gold L, Norman R, Devine A, Feder G, Taft AJ, Hegarty KL. Cost effectiveness of health care interventions to address intimate partner violence: What do we know and what else should we look for? Violence Against Women 2011;17(3):389-403 Available from: http://vaw.sagepub.com/content/17/3/389

Taft AJ, Hegarty KL. Intimate partner violence against women: What outcomes are meaningful? JAMA [Invited Editorial] 2010;304(5):577-9. Available from: http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/304/5/577

Hegarty KL, Gunn JM, O'Doherty LJ, Taft A, Chondros P, Feder G, Astbury J, Brown S. Women's evaluation of abuse and violence care in general practice: A cluster randomised controlled trial (weave). BMC Public Health 2010; 10: 2. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/2

Taft AJ, Watson L. Abortion and mental health: Established facts reconsidered. Br J Psychiatry 2009;195(2):181. Available from: http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/195/2/181.1

Taft AJ, Small R, Hegarty KL, Lumley J, Watson LF, Gold L. MOSAIC (mothers' advocates in the community): Protocol and sample description of a cluster randomised trial of mentor mother support to reduce intimate partner violence among pregnant or recent mothers. BMC Public Health 2009; 9: 159. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/159

Ramsay J, Carter Y, Davidson L, Dunne D, Eldridge S, Hegarty K, Rivas C, Taft A, Warburton A, Feder G. Advocacy interventions to reduce or eliminate violence and promote the physical and psychosocial well-being of women who experience intimate partner abuse. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009; (3): Art. No.: CD005043. Available from: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD005043/frame.html

Hobbs M, Taft AJ, Amir LH. The emergency contraceptive pill rescheduled: A focus group study of women's knowledge, attitudes and experiences. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2009;35(2):87-91. Available from: http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/35/2/87.short

Taft AJ, Watson LF. Depression and termination of pregnancy (induced abortion) in a national cohort of young Australian women: The confounding effect of women's experience of violence. BMC Public Health 2008; 8: 75. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/8/75

Taft AJ, Small R, Hoang KA. Intimate partner violence in Vietnam and among Vietnamese diaspora communities in Western societies: A comprehensive review. JFS 2008;14(2-3):167-82. Available from: http://pubs.e-contentmanagement.com/doi/abs/10.5172/jfs.327.14.2-3.167

Taft A, Hegarty K, Ramsay J, Feder G, Carter Y, Davidson L, Warburton A. Screening women for intimate partner violence in health care settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008; (1): Art. No. CD007007. Available from: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD007007/frame.html

McNair R, Taft A, Hegarty K. Using reflexivity to enhance in-depth interviewing skills for the clinician researcher [Debate]. BMC Med Res Methodol 2008; 8: 73. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/8/73

McNair R, Taft A, Hegarty K. Using reflexivity to enhance in-depth interviewing skills for the clinician researcher. BMC Med Res Methodol 2008; 8: 73. Available from: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/8/73

Hegarty KL, O'Doherty LJ, Gunn J, Pierce D, Taft AJ. A brief counselling intervention by health professionals utilising the 'readiness to change' concept for women experiencing intimate partner abuse: The weave project. JFS 2008;14(2-3):376-88. Available from: http://pubs.e-contentmanagement.com/doi/abs/10.5172/jfs.327.14.2-3.376

Hegarty K, Taft A, Feder G. Violence between intimate partners: working with the whole family. BMJ 2008;337:a839. Available from: http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a839.extract

Hegarty K, Gunn J, Chondros P, Taft A. Physical and social predictors of partner abuse in women attending general practice: A cross-sectional study. Br J Gen Pract 2008;58(552):484-7. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3399/bjgp08X299245

Watson LF, Taft AJ, Lee C. Associations of Self-Reported Violence with Age at Menarche, First Intercourse, and First Birth Among a National Population Sample of Young Australian Women. Womens Health Issues 2007;17(5):281-9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2007.06.003

Taft AJ, Watson LF. Termination of pregnancy: Associations with partner violence and other factors in a national cohort of young Australian women. Aust N Z J Public Health 2007;31(2):135-42. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00031.x/full

Hobbs M, Taft A, Amir LH. Emergency contraception. Aust Fam Physician [Letter] 2007;36(12):982.

Warshaw C, Taft A, McCosker H. Educating health professionals: changing attitudes and overcoming barriers. In: Roberts G, Hegarty K, Feder G, editors. Intimate partner abuse and health professionals : new approaches to domestic violence. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2006. p. 61-77

Taft AJ, Hegarty KL, Feder GS. Tackling partner violence in families. Med J Aust 2006;185(10):535-6. Available from: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/185_10_201106/taf10750_fm.html

Taft A, Shakespeare J. Managing the whole family when women are abused by intimate partners: challenges for health professionals. In: Roberts G, Hegarty K, Feder G, editors. Intimate partner abuse and health professionals : new approaches to domestic violence. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 2006. p. 145-62

Taft A, Toomey L. VicHealth Review of Links between and Interventions to reduce Alcohol-related Interpersonal Violence: an evidence-based comprehensive literature review. Melbourne, Australia: Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth); 2005

Ramsay J, Feder G, Rivas C, Carter Y, Davidson L, Hegarty K, Taft A, Warburton A. Advocacy interventions to reduce or eliminate violence and promote the physical and psychosocial well-being of women who experience intimate partner abuse [Protocol]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005; (1): Art. No. CD005043.

Taft AJ, Watson LF, Lee C. Violence against young Australian women and association with reproductive events: A cross-sectional analysis of a national population sample. Aust N Z J Public Health 2004;28(4):324-9. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2004.tb00438.x/abstract

Taft A, Broom DH, Legge D. General practitioner management of intimate partner abuse and the whole family: Qualitative study. BMJ 2004;328(7440):618-21. Available from: http://www.bmj.com/content/328/7440/618.full

Taft A. Violence in pregnancy and after childbirth: Current knowledge and issues in health care responses. Issues Paper 6. Sydney: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, UNSW; 2003. Available from: http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/PDF files/Issuespaper6.pdf

Taft A. Promoting women’s mental health: the challenges of intimate partner/domestic violence. Issues Paper 8. Sydney: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, UNSW; 2003. Available from: http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/PDF files/Issues_Paper_8.pdf

Taft A, Hegarty K. Screening for domestic violence. Safe healthcare system needs to be in place. BMJ [Letter] 2002;325:1417. Available from: http://www.bmj.com/content/325/7377/1417.full

Nurse J, Bauer ST, Shadigian EM, Davies P, Taft A, Hegarty K, Crilly M, Howe A, Goodwin MM, Dietz P, Spitz AM, Arias I, Saltzman LE, Feder G, Twisselmann B. Screening for domestic violence [1] (multiple letters). BMJ 2002;325(7377):1417-20.

Taft A, Hegarty K, Flood M. Are men and women equally violent to intimate partners? Aust N Z J Public Health 2001;25(6):498-500. Available from: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-842X.2001.tb00311.x/abstract

Taft A. To Screen or Not to Screen - Is This the Right Question?: Quality Care, Intervention and Women's Agency in Health Care Responses to Partner Violence and Abuse. Women Against Violence 2001(10):41-6.

Hegarty KL, Taft AJ. Overcoming the barriers to disclosure and inquiry of partner abuse for women attending general practice. Aust N Z J Public Health 2001;25(5):433-7.

 
Top
 
 
Content Approved by: Director, Mother and Child Health Research
Page maintained by: Administrator
Last Updated: May 22, 2012