Skip navigation to main content

You are here: UNE Home / Staff / Rafat Hussain

Associate Professor Rafat Hussain

Rafat Hussain

Associate Professor, Postgraduate Coordinator, Faculty of The Professions, School of Rural Medicine, School of Health

Qualifications

PhD, MBBS, MPH

Contact

Email: rhussain@une.edu.au
Room: Pat O'Shane Buidling (C13)
Phone: 02 6773 3678 (or +61 2 6773 3678 overseas)
Fax: 02 6773 3666

Dr Rafat Hussain is an Associate Professor  in the Health Management Program 

She obtained her PhD in Epidemiology & Population Health from the Australian National University in 1998 and Masters in Public Health (with a focus on Maternal and Child Health) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. Prior to moving to Public Health, Dr Hussain trained as a clinician and got her MBBS from the University of Karachi (Pakistan) in 1984 and also undertook further training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Dr Hussain has worked as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Health and Nutrition at University of Wollongong and as a Visiting Fellow at the National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health (ANU). She also worked for several years as an academic at the Aga Khan Medical University, Karachi, where she was actively involved in teaching, clinical care and establishment of primary health care programs.

Her research interests include reproductive and sexual health, women's health, health promotion, population genetics, developmental disabilities and health services research. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed international journals.

Areas of Teaching

Units
HSHM301/501 Health Education and Promotion - semester 1 & 2
HSHM501 Health Education and Promotion - Hong Kong program
EHPS591 Research Methods 2 - semester 1 & 2 (12 credit point)


Postgraduate Research Coordinator

The Postgraduate research coordinator is responsible for overseeing all aspects of research higher degrees:

  • Coordinating supervision
  • Planning and running of  research residential schools
  • Monitoring progress and completion rates
  • Review and advocacy for improving student facilities and computing support
  • Represent the School both at Faculty and University level through respective research committees
  • Provide support on research issues to staff and students
Supervision

Past and current supervision support to a number of Doctoral, Masters-Honours and Bachelor-Honours students. Some of the topics include:

  • Health impact of domestic violence on mid-aged women
  • The effect of health on human fertility and fecundity
  • Injuries occurring at mass gatherings
  • Knowledge and management of sexually transmitted infections by GPs
  • Health promotion in the workplace setting
  • Attitude of carers as an indicator of quality of life
  • Mental health services and integration into general primary health care
  • Consumer perspective of narcotic drug use
  • Promotion of treated bed-nets for malaria prevention
  • Factors that restore relationships after extramarital infidelity
  • Use of homoeopathy treatment for management of depression
  • Fibromyalgia and Stress
  • Training needs of health care staff in developmental disabilities

Research interests

Dr Hussain's Recent Research Projects & Grants include:

Current

Co-investigator (2000 - ongoing): ‘Health and survival patterns of people with disabilities in Western Australia’. This project has been funded by a number of grants including WA Population Health Consortium, ARC-Linkage grant, Population Health Genetics grant from Edith Cowan University and in-kind support from Data Linkage Unit at University of Western Australia, Telethon Institute and the Disability Services Commission of WA.

Co-investigator (2005 - ongoing): ‘Screening for iron deficiency anaemia’. The project is being conducted by medical staff at UNE Medical Centre. It has recently received external funding from the main phase of the study by the Meat & Livestock Association.

Co-Investigator and Mentor (2005-06): ‘Ageing and developmental disabilities: challenges for adult individuals and their families in rural NSW’. Supported by FEHPS Faculty Large  Grant and in-kind support from Challenge-Armidale and Kirinari, Inverell).

Associate Investigator (2004 –ongoing): ‘Experience of violence and reproductive health’. This research is based on secondary analysis of longitudinal data 1996-2004 from the mid-aged cohort of Women’s Health Australia study; in collaboration with Research Centre on Gender, Health & Aging, University of Newcastle.

Co-Investigator (2004-ongoing): ‘An exploration of experience of abuse by older Australian women and its impact on their health and quality of life’. Supported by University Research Grant with in kind support from Melbourne City Council.

Past Projects

Principal Investigator (2002-03): ‘Reproductive morbidity and mortality in Nepal’. Supported by an Institutional Research Grant, University of New England and in-kind support from Chitwan Hospital Foundation, Nepal.

Co-Investigator (2002-03): ‘Body image, self esteem and cosmetic surgery use’. (A sub-study on mid-aged cohort of Women’s Health Australia study and supported by University Research Grant, University of New England.

Principal Investigator (2001-02): ‘Management of sexually transmitted diseases by general practitioners in Australia’. Supported by FEHPS Internal Research Grant, University of New England.

Co-Investigator (1998-99): ‘Determinants of Fertility in Muslim Population of India’. Supported by ARC small grant in collaboration with Edith Cowan University, Perth and University of Western Australia.

Principal Investigator (1995-97): ‘The Role of Inbreeding as a Determinant of Pregnancy Outcome and Child Survival in Pakistan ’. Doctoral research funded by the Health Transition Centre and National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, Australian National University.

Principal Investigator (1992-93): ‘Community Perceptions and Management of Acute Respiratory Infections in Urban Slums of Karachi’, funded by Harvard Institute of International Development, USA.

Co-Investigator (1990-93): ‘Pregnancy Outcome & Child Survival Study’. This was a four-year longitudinal study to assess the prevalence of low birth weight; and child growth and development including the effects of under-nutrition). Funded by the National Institute of Health (Division of Reproductive Epidemiology), USA.

Consultancy

Consultancies

  1. Consultancy Report (1994): ‘Malaria: Global Incidence and Prevalence from 1940s to 1990s’, Commonwealth Dept. of Health & Human Services (Veterans Affairs Section), Canberra.
  2. Consultancy Report (1992): ‘Feasibility Study for Improving Antenatal and Family Planning Services for Quetta District, Balochistan’. Funded by UNICEF, Pakistan.
  3. Consultancy Report (1988-89): ‘Evaluation of UNICEF-sponsored Baldia PHC Project’. Funded by UNICEF, Pakistan.
  4. Consultancy Report (1988): ‘Morbidity Patterns and Health Services Utilisation in Northern Areas of Pakistan’. Funded by Aga Khan Health Services, UNICEF, Pakistan and Govt. of Pakistan: Ministry of Health.
  5. Consultancy Report (1988): ‘Issues in regular growth monitoring of infants and under-5 children. Funded by Aga Khan Health Services, India.  

Publications

Book chapters
  1. Hussain, R., R. Marino and I. Coulson (2005), Health promotion: The cornerstone of positive ageing, in I. Coulson & V. Minichiello (eds), Contemporary Issues in Gerontology: Promoting Positive Ageing, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, pp. 34-52.
  2. Hussain, R. (2004). Consanguinity, cultural variation, ethical and psychosocial factors, in D. Kumar (ed.), Genetic Disorders of the Indian Subcontinent, Springer, London, ISBN 1-4020-2231-X, pp. 125-135. 
  3. Hussain, R. (2002), Counselling issues for physicians in training, in J. Kottler (ed), Finding Your Way, American Counselling Association, pp.89–94.

Journal Articles (peer-reviewed only)

  1. Bittles AH, Bowers C, Hussain R. and Glasson EJ. (2006) Four ages of Down Syndrome. European Journal of Public Health. Advanced electronic copy published in July, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ck/103 (print form to be published in October 2006). 
  2.  Loxton, D., Schofield, M.J., & R. Hussain (2006), ‘Psychological health in mid-life women who have ever lived with a violent partner or spouse’. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21: 1092-1097.
  3. Loxton, D., Schofield. M., Hussain, R. and G. Mishra (2006) ‘History of domestic violence and physical health in midlife’. Violence Against Women, 12: 715-731.
  4.  Khan MA, Hussain R., Plummer D. and V. Minichiello (2006) ‘Willingness to offer Chlamydia screening in general practice in New South Wales’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 30: 226-230.
  5. Benner AB. and Hussain R. (2006) ‘Consanguineous unions and child health in the state of Qatar’. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 20: 372-378.
  6. Khan MA, Hussain R. and M Schofield (2005) ‘Profiles of young Australian women diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections’. International Journal of STDs and AIDS, 16:482-487.
  7. Glasson EJ, Sullivan SG, Hussain R, and AH Bittles (2005) ‘Intellectual diability among indigenous Australians’. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research,48: 626-634.
  8. Hussain R (2005), ‘The effect of religious, cultural and social identity on population genetic structure in Pakistan’. Annals of Human Biology, 32:145-153.
  9. Hussain R. and AH Bittles (2004) ‘Assessment of the association between consanguinity and fertility in Asian populations’. Journal of Population, Health and Nutrition, 22: 1-12.
  10. Khan MA, Hussain R., Plummer D. and V. Minichiello (2004) ‘Factors associated with bulk billing: experience from a general practitioners’ survey in NSW’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28: 135-139.
  11. Khan MA, Hussain R, Plummer D. and V. Minichiello (2004) ‘Too many surveys! Eliciting the views of general practitioners for not participating in postal surveys’. Australian Journal of Primary Health Care, 28: 76-81.
  12. Loxton D, Schofield M. and R Hussain (2004) ‘History of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28: 383-388.
  13. Sullivan SG, Hussain R, Threlfall T. and AH Bittles (2004). ‘The incidence of cancer in people with intellectually disability’.  Cancer Causes & Control, 15: 1021-1025. 
  14. Sullivan SG, Slack Smith L. and R Hussain (2004) ‘Understanding the use of breast cancer screening services by women with intellectual disability’. Social and Preventive Medicine, 49:398-405.   
  15. Sullivan SG, Glasson EJ, Hussain R, Patterson BA, Slack-Smith L, Montgomery PD. and A.H. Bittles (2003), ‘Breast cancer in women with intellectual disability and how it relates to the use of mammography screening services’, Preventive Medicine, 37: 507-512.
  16. Bittles AH, Glasson EJ, Sullivan SG. and R Hussain (2003) ‘Changing patterns of lifestyle and life expectancy in people with intellectual disability’. Medicinskaya Genetika, 2: 83-88.
  17. Glasson EJ, Sullivan SJ, Hussain R, Patterson BA, Montgomery PD. and AH Bittles (2003) ‘The comparative survival advantage of males with Down Syndrome’. American Journal of Human Biology, 15: 192-195.
  18. Glasson EJ, Sullivan SG, Hussain R, Patterson BA, Montgomery PD. and AH Bittles (2002), The changing survival profile of people with Down Syndrome: Implications for genetic counselling’. Clinical Genetics, 62: 390-393.
  19. Hussain, R. (2002), ‘Risk factors for neonatal mortality in low-income population subgroups in Karachi, Pakistan’. Community Genetics, 5: 249-256.
  20. Schofield M, Hussain R, Loxton D. and Z Miller (2002), Psychosocial and health covariates of cosmetic surgery: Women’s Health Australia Study’. Journal of Health Psychology, 7: 445-457.
  21. Hussain R, Schofield M. and D Loxton (2002), ‘Cosmetic surgery history and health service use in midlife: Women’s health Australia’. Medical Journal of Australia, 176(12): 576-579.
  22. Bittles AH, Patterson BA, Sullivan SG, Hussain R, Glasson EJ. and PD Montgomery (2002), ‘The changing effect of intellectual disability on life expectancy in Australia’. Journal of Ageing: Medical Sciences, 57A(7): M470-472.
  23. Hussain R. (2002), ‘Lay perceptions of genetic risks attributable to inbreeding in Pakistan’. American Journal of Human Biology, 14: 264–274.
  24. Bittles AH, Grant J, Sullivan SG. and R. Hussain (2002), ‘Does inbreeding lead to decreased human fertility?’ Annals of Human Biology, 29: 111–130.
  25. Hussain R, Bittles AH. and S.G. Sullivan (2001), ‘Early childhood mortality in Muslim populations of India and Pakistan’. American Journal of Human Biology, 13: 177–187.
  26. Bittles AH. and R. Hussain (2000) ‘Prevalence of inbreeding in Muslim population of India: A regional and state level analysis’. Annals of Human Biology, 27:163–171.
  27. Hussain R, Fikree FF. and HW Berendes (2000). ‘The role of son preference in reproductive behaviour in Pakistan’. Bulletin of World Health Organization, 78: 378-389.
  28. Hussain R. and AH Bittles (2000), ‘Sociodemographic correlates of consanguineous marriage in India’. Journal of Biosocial Science, 32: 433–422.
  29. Hussain R. and AH Bittles (1999) ‘Consanguineous marriage and differentials in age at marriage, contraceptive use and fertility in Pakistan’. Journal of Biosocial Science, 31: 121-138.
  30. Hussain R. (1999) ‘Community perceptions of reasons for preference for consanguineous marriages in Pakistan’. Journal of Biosocial Science, 31: 449-461.
  31. Hussain R. and AH Bittles (1998) ‘The prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of consanguineous marriages in Pakistan’. Journal of Biosocial Science, 30: 261-275.
  32. Hussain R. (1998) ‘The role of consanguinity and inbreeding as determinant of spontaneous abortion in Karachi, Pakistan’. Annals of Human Genetics, 62: 147-157.
  33. Hussain R. (1998) ‘The role of consanguinity and inbreeding in perinatal mortality in Karachi, Pakistan’. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 12: 114-127.
  34. Razzaq A. and R. Hussain (1998) ‘Determinants of 30-day mortality of spontaneous ICH in Pakistan’. Surgical Neurology, 50: 336-343.
  35. Hussain R. Lobo M, et al. (1997) ‘Maternal perceptions and management of pneumonia:  An ethnographic study in urban squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan’. Social Science & Medicine, 45: 991-1004.
  36. Fikree F, Berendes HW, Midhet F, D’Souza R. and R. Hussain (1994) ‘Risk factors for intrauterine growth retardation: Results of a community-based study from Karachi’. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association [JPMA], 44: 30-34.
  37. Thaver IH, Midhet F. and R. Hussain (1993) ‘The value of intermittent growth monitoring in private health care programs’. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association [JPMA], 43: 129-132.
  38. Thaver IH. and R. Hussain (1993) ‘Knowledge, attitudes and practices of breastfeeding in urban, slum & peri-urban areas of Karachi’. Pakistan Paediatric Journal, 18: 19-25.
  39. Thaver IH, Hussain R. and F. Midhet (1993) ‘Is there an alternative to regular growth monitoring?’ Journal of Tropical Paediatrics, 39: 320-321.
  40. Razzaq A, Rizvi A, Hussain R. and K. Khan (1993) ‘Risk factors for premature births: A case-control study’. Specialist, 9: 352-357.

Forthcoming


  1. Makich L, Hussain R, and Harris Humphries J. (2006). Management of depression by homeopathic practitioners in Sydney, Australia. Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
  2. Khan MA, Plummer D., Hussain R., and V. Minichiello (2006) ‘Barriers to sexual health promotion in general practice in New South Wales’. Sexual Health.
  3. Hussain R. and A. Khan (2007) ‘Physical and sexual violence and reproductive health in Pakistan’. Health Care for Women International. 

Under review


  1. Benner AB, Hussain R, and Teebi AS. (2006) Consanguineous marriages and their effects on diseases: Studies from an endogamous population. Journal of Biosocial Science.
  2. Hussain R. and A. Khan (2006) ‘Contextual determinants of domestic violence in Pakistan’. Asian Studies Review.

Refereed Conference Proceedings


  1. Loxton D, Hussain R. and M. Schofield (2003). Women’ experiences of domestic abuse in rural and remote Australia. Conference Proceedings of the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Hobart, March 2003. Available at:  http://www.nrha.net.au/nrhapublic/publicdocs/conferences/7thNRHC/Papers/refereed%20IO%20papers/loxton.pdf
  2. Hussain R. (2001), The effect of marriage preferences on female autonomy: a case study, Proceedings of First Conference of the Population Association of Pakistan, pp 87-97.
  3. Hussain R, Fikree FF, D’Souza R, Midhet F. and HW Berendes (1997). ‘Unwanted pregnancy, son preference and contraceptive use in urban slums of Karachi, Pakistan’. Proceedings of the XXIII IUSSP International Population Conference, Vol. 3: 1045-1060.

Other publications


  1. Sullivan SG. and R. Hussain (2004) Appropriate breast screening for women with intellectual disability. BMJ Online, 15 March,  http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/316/7149/1979/a
  2. Hussain R. (2003). New Reproductive technologies: Women’s health and autonomy – freedom or dependency. Asian Studies Review, 27(3): 405-407.

Conference Presentations (up to 2000 only)

  1. Hussain, R, Edwards H, Irwin L, Avery A and Fitzgerald L (2006). ‘Losing the disability label: Challenges in disability research’. National Conference on the Right to Right Health Care: Evidence, Ethics and Health in People with Developmental Disabilities, Sydney, 15-17 November.
  2. Glasson EJ, Hussain, R, Bowers C and Bittles AH. (2006). ‘Use of linked data for research into intellectual disability in Western Australia’.  National Conference on the Right to Right Health Care: Evidence, Ethics and Health in People with Developmental Disabilities, Sydney, 15-17 November.
  3. Glasson EJ, Hussain, R, Bowers C and Bittles AH. (2006). ‘Morbidity and mortality at four ages of Down syndrome’.  National Conference on the Right to Right Health Care: Evidence, Ethics and Health in People with Developmental Disabilities, Sydney, 15-17 November.
  4. Hussain R. and K Regmi (2005) ‘Abortion caseload at a tertiary-care hospital in Nepal’. XXV Conference of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, Tours, France, 18-23 July.
  5. Bittles AH, Glasson EJ, Sullivan SG. and R. Hussain (2005) Cancers, co-morbidities and ageing in people with Down syndrome. Annual Conference of the European Society for Human Genetics, Prague, 7-10 May.
  6. Loxton D, Schofield M. and R Hussain (2005) ‘Factors that mediate the relationship between intimate partner violence and mental health among mid-aged Australian women’. Fifth Women’s Health Australian Conference – Reflecting on gender /confronting the evidence, Melbourne, 2-0-22 April.
  7. Hussain R. (2004) ‘The effect of religious, cultural and social identity on population genetics’. Invited paper, International conference on Genetics and Population Health, Fremantle, 8-10 August.
  8. Glasson EJ, Sullivan SG, Hussain R, Forbes A. and AH Bittles (2004) ‘Intellectual diability among indigenous Australians’. International conference on Genetics and Population Health, Fremantle, 8-10 August.
  9. Glasson EJ, Bower C, Hussain R. and AH Bittles (2004) ‘The four ages of Down syndrome’. International conference on Genetics and Population Health, Fremantle, 8-10 August.
  10. Hussain R. (2004) ‘Discrimination and violence against women in Pakistan’. 18th European Conference on Modern Asian Studies (EASAS), Lund, 5-10 July.
  11. Hussain R. and A. Khan (2004) ‘Gender-based violence and status of women’.   International Cultural Research Network  [ICRN] - Exploring Cultural Perspectives: Florence 2004, 12-17 July.
  12. Hussain R. (2003). ‘Better survival of people with intellectual disabilities: Issues for health care policies, services delivery and families. National Conference on the Physical, Mental & Social Health of People with Developmental Disabilities, Sydney, 26-28 June.
  13. Glasson EJ, Sullivan SG, Hussain R, Petterson BA, Montgomery PD. and AH Bittles (2003). ‘Intellectual disability in ageing Indigenous Australians’. International Federation on Ageing - 6th Global Conference – Maturity Matters, Perth, Western Australia, 27-30 October.
  14. Bittles AH, Glasson EJ, Sullivan SG, Hussain R, Petterson BA. and PD Montgomery (2003). ‘The increased longevity of people with intellectual disability: Implications for health care’. International Federation on Ageing - 6th Global Conference – Maturity Matters, Perth, Western Australia, 27-30 October.
  15. Hussain R. and AH Bittles (2002) Assessment of the association between consanguinity and fertility. The 2002 Regional Conference of the International Union of the Scientific Study of Population, Bangkok, 10-13 June.
  16. Hussain R. (2002) Lay perceptions of genetic risks attributed to practice of consanguinity and endogamy. Invited paper, international conference on Community Genetics in Developing Countries, Bangalore, 16-18 January
  17. Hussain R. (2002) Sociodemographic correlates of marriage choice in South Asia. Invited paper, 2nd Symposium of the International Consortium on Endogamy and Cultural Diversity, Bangalore, 14-16 January.
  18. AH Bittles, Hussain R. SG. Sullivan (2001). The link between fertility and consanguinity. Annual Conference of the Population Association of America, Los Angeles, 23-25 March.
  19. Hussain R. and. AH Bittles (2001). Intellectual disability and ageing: Evidence from Western Australia. Annual Conference of the Association of Gerontology, Canberra, 5-7 September.
  20. Hussain R. (2000) Community perceptions of reasons for consanguineous marriages. Invited paper, 1st Symposium of the International Consortium on Endogamy and Cultural Diversity, Leeds, 14-15 September.
  21. Hussain R. (2000) Early offspring mortality in Muslim population of India and Pakistan. British Human Genetics Conference, York, 11-13 September.
  22. Bittles AH, Sullivan SG, Hussain R. (2000) The influence of intellectual disability on ageing. British Human Genetics Conference, York, 11-13 September.
  23. Hussain R. (2000) The effect of marriage preferences on female autonomy: a case study, Annual Conference of the Population Association of Pakistan, Karachi, 24-26 October.

Expert Reviewer

  1. Reviewer for peer reviewed journals

            National

  • Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
  • International
  • Annals of Human Biology 
  • Contemporary Anthropology
  • Population Studies
  • American Journal of Human Biology
  • Journal of Biosocial Science
  • Community Genetics
  • Viloence Against Women

  1. Reviewer for research grant proposals
  • National Health & Medical Research Council
  • Queensland Nursing Council
  • Victorian Health Promotion Foundation