Dr Cheryl Brunton, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Senior Lecturer

MB ChB DipComH FAFPHM

Email cheryl.brunton@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 364 3625

Department of Population Health
University of Otago, Christchurch
PO Box 4345
Christchurch 8140

Background

Cheryl originally trained as a medical practitioner and worked for almost a decade in general practice and emergency medicine, before retraining as a public health medicine specialist.

After completing the Diploma in Community Health in 1989, she began work as a public health registrar for the Primary Health Division of the Canterbury Area Health Board.

She combined management of rural district nursing and home care services, general practice liaison, and lecturing in public health at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences until 1993, when she became a fulltime Lecturer at the School.

Cheryl also works four days a week as a public health physician in the Community and Public Health Division of the Canterbury District Health Board.Her duties there include acting as Medical Officer of Health for the West Coast.

Her contact details at C&PH are:
Tel +64 3 364 1777
Email cheryl.brunton@cdhb.health.nz

Award

Public Health Champion for 2009

Teaching 2017

PUBH 733 Environment and Health
Teaches Physical Environment/Housing to the 4th year Undergraduate students.

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Research Interests

Epidemiology of hepatitis C among injecting drug users [and related areas of drug policy]
Communicable disease surveillance and control [including zoonotic disease such as campylobacteriosis]
Environmental health policy [including health impact assessment]
Epidemiology of hepatitis C among injecting drug users [and related areas of drug policy]
Communicable disease surveillance and control [including zoonotic disease such as campylobacteriosis]
Environmental health policy [including health impact assessment]

Projects

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Professional Activities

Health Research Council's Public Health Research Committee [member 1996-2000]
Public Health Association of NZ [PHA National Vice-President 1995-1997 & editor of national PHA newsletter 1994-1999]
Consultant for Ministry of Health and Public Health Service
Examiner for NZ Branch of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine [1997 - 2000] , currently mentor for registrars in AFPHM's training scheme & Corresponding Editor of Australasian newsletter [Snow's Field]
Member of Advisory Board National Opioid Treatment Training Programme [since Feb 2001]
Chair Hepatitis C Services Trust Te Waipounamu [1998 to present]

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Student: Sarah Colhoun
Degree: MPH
Topic: Media constructions of public views about freshwater and their implications for public health

2012

Student: Gerida Birukila
Degree: PhD thesis
Topic: Culture, Risk and HIV: The Case of Black African Migrants and Refugees in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Co-Supervisor: Nigel Dickson and Lee Thompson

2010

Student: Gillian Abel
Degree: PhD thesis
Topic: Decriminalisation: A harm minimisation and human rights approach to regulating sex work
Co-Supervisor: Lisa Fitzgerald and Elisabeth Wells

Student: Andrew Ball
Degree: PhD thesis
Topic: Drinking-water quality and gastrointestinal disease in New Zealand
Co-Supervisor: Patrick Graham

2006

Student: Lisa Fitzgerald
Degree: PhD thesis
Topic: Localising health: space, class, gender and the lives of young people.
Co-Supervisor: Rosemary DuPlessis and Geoff Fougere (University of Canterbury)

2017

Student: Alex Sullivan
Degree: MPH
Topic: Both sides of the story: understanding the risks of drinking water self-supplies as perceived by New Zealanders living rurally
Co-Supervisor: Gillian Abel

2012

Student: Nicola Laurie
Degree: MPH
Topic: A pandemic and a pandemic vaccine: Primary care perspectives.
Co-Supervisor: Ben Hudson

Student: Susan Bidwell
Degree: MPH
Topic: Talking about 1080: risk, trust and protecting our place
Co-Supervisor: Lee Thompson

2011

Student: Rebecca Dell
Degree: MPH
Topic: Parents’ attitudes to the HPV vaccination for their daughters.
Co-Supervisor: Gillian Abel

2010

Student: Sarah Kowalczewski
Degree: MPH
Topic: The importance of culturally appropriate health promotion
Co-Supervisor: Lee Thompson

Student: Chantal Lauzon
Degree: MPH
Topic: Surveillance of HIV and Hepatitis C prevalence among attendees of needle exchanges throughout New Zealand
Co-Supervisor: Ian Sheerin

Student: Mark Newsome
Degree: MPH
Topic: Pandemic preparedness planning in selected New Zealand public hospitals: Are they prepared?
Co-Supervisor: Pauline Barnett

Student: Mona Schousboe
Degree: MPH
Topic: Governance, management and professional influences on infection control in Canterbury Public Hospitals 1978–2008.
Co-Supervisor: Pauline Barnett

2009

Student: Matthew Reid
Degree: MPH
Topic: Childhood injury surveillance - Methods of surveillance and the information they provide for injury prevention

Student: Rebecca Kemp
Degree: MPH
Topic: Identifying fuel poverty in New Zealand within a community setting.
Co-Supervisor: Ian Sheerin

2008

Student: Alasdair Duncan
Degree: MPH
Topic: Measuring the prevalence of influenza infection in arriving international airline travellers: a pilot study
Co-Supervisor: Rob Weir and Patricia Priest

2007

Student: Emma Davidson
Degree: MPH
Topic: Hepatitis B and C in chronic liver disease deaths.
Co-Supervisor: Rob Weir

Student: Gerida Birukila
Degree: MPH
Topic: Attitudes towards voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV among African migrants and refugees in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Co-Supervisor: A Richardson

Student: Jim Ross
Degree: MHealSci
Topic: Applying discourse analysis in general practice:the case of chronic fatigue syndrome. (withdrawn)
Co-Supervisor:

2006

Student: Brendon Gray
Degree: MPH
Topic: Coercive emergency health powers in New Zealand and proposed legislative reform.
Co-Supervisor: Pauline Barnett

Student: Melanie Penny
Degree: MPH
Topic: Achieving water fluoridation through public policy
Co-Supervisor: Pauline Barnett

2003

Student: Jessica Brady
Degree: MPH
Topic: Primary school policy on bullying: blueprints for health?
Co-Supervisor: Suzanne Pitama

2002

Student: Gillian Abel
Degree: MPH
Topic: Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and sexual behaviour among adolescents.
Co-Supervisor: Co-supervisor with Ann Richardson

2001

Student: Marie Butterfield
Degree: MPH
Topic: Risk assessment. An analysis of the management of communicable disease in primary schools

Student: Sharon McFarlane
Degree: MPH
Topic: Stress at work: the identification of stressors within a local government organisation

Student: Asha Pun
Degree: MPH
Topic: The role of husband and wife communication in family planning decision making: a case study among couples in a carpet factory in Lalitpur, Nepal.
Co-Supervisor: K. Heckert

2000

Student: Sandy Brinsdon
Degree: MPH
Topic: An examination of the role of local injury data in a community injury prevention project

Student: Simon Peter Kuttikkat
Degree: MPH
Topic: Dental health needs assessment of people on low incomes in Christchurch.

Student:
Degree:
Topic:
Co-Supervisor:

1999

Student: Lynda Jeffs
Degree: MPH
Topic: A culturally safe public health research framework
Co-Supervisor: K. Heckert

1998

Student: Anna Richardson
Degree: MPH
Topic: Health promotion and public health nursing

Student: Rob Weir
Degree: MPH
Topic: Influenza vaccination coverage in Canterbury rest home residents: the effect of free influenza vaccination for those aged 65 and over

1997

Student: Lynley Cook
Degree: MPH
Topic: Factors influencing the adoption of antenatal screening tests.

Student: Philip Hider
Degree: MPH
Topic: The search for the optimal GP:population ratio. A review of existing methodologies and the development and testing of an outcome based alternative

1996

Student: Isobel Martin
Degree: MPH
Topic: Modifiable indoor domestic environmental risk factors for asthma

Student: Richard Pooley
Degree: MPH
Topic: Mycobacterium bovis: an old disease in a new era? A review of the epidemiology and public health importance of human Mycobacterium bovis infection in New Zealand.
Co-Supervisor:

2006-07

Student: Nicholas Pascoe
Topic: A critical media analysis of print media reporting on the implementation of the Prostitution Reform Act, 2003-2006.
Supervisors: Lisa Fitzgerald, Gillian Abel, Cheryl Brunton
Sponsors: Health Research Council of NZ

2004-05

Student: Katie MacKay
Topic: National Needle Exchange Blood-borne Virus Seroprevalence Survey
Supervisors: Cheryl Brunton, Co-supervisor: Charles Henderson [Needle Exchange NZ]

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Publications

Eichler, N., Thornley, C., Swadi, T., Devine, T., McElnay, C., Sherwood, J., … Brunton, C., … Freeman, J., Berger, S., … Geoghegan, J. L. (2021). Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 during border quarantine and air travel, New Zealand (Aotearoa). Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(5), 1274-1278. doi: 10.3201/eid2705.210514

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Brunton, C., Gullam, J., & Walls, T. (2020). Pregnant women's knowledge of, and adherence to, New Zealand Food Safety in Pregnancy guidelines. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1525), 41-52. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Murdoch, D., Addidle, M., Andersson, H.-S., Arnold, B., Balm, M., Benschop, J., … Birch, M., … Brunton, C., … Chambers, S., … Dalton, S., … Everts, R., … Freeman, J., French, N., … Hudson, B., … Ikram, R., Jack, S., Kelly, M., Lamont, I., Maze, M. J., … Metcalf, S., … Murton, S., … Pink, R., Pithie, A., … Priest, P., Raymond, N., … Taylor, J., … Upton, A., Ussher, J., Werno, A., & Wiles, S. (2020). Politicians: Please work together to minimise the spread of COVID-19. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1511), 7-8. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Brunton, C., Gullam, J., & Walls, T. (2020). The epidemiology of listeriosis in pregnant women and children in New Zealand from 1997 to 2016: An observational study. BMC Public Health, 20, 116. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8221-z

Brunton, C. (2019, December). One Health: A view from a public health unit. Invited presentation at the 5th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.

Abel, G., Fitzgerald, L., & Brunton, C. (2010). Christchurch School of Medicine study: Methodology and methods. In G. Abel, L. Fitzgerald, C. Healy & A. Taylor (Eds.), Taking the crime out of sex work: New Zealand sex workers' fight for decriminalisation. (pp. 159-172). Bristol, UK: Policy Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Brunton, C. (2010). Becoming inspectors of brothels: Public health authorities' experience of implementing the Prostitution Reform Act. In G. Abel, L. Fitzgerald, C. Healy & A. Taylor (Eds.), Taking the crime out of sex work: New Zealand sex workers' fight for decriminalisation. (pp. 173-196). Bristol, UK: Policy Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Martin, N., Brunton, C., & Walls, T. (2019). The epidemiology of Campylobacter gastroenteritis in New Zealand children and the effect of the Campylobacter Strategy: A 20 year observational study. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 38(6), 569-576. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002228

Journal - Research Article

Jeffs, E., Williman, J., Martin, N., Brunton, C., & Walls, T. (2019). The epidemiology of non-viral gastroenteritis in New Zealand children from 1997 to 2015: An observational study. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 18. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-6229-4

Journal - Research Article

Walls, T., Cho, V., Martin, N., Williman, J., & Brunton, C. (2018). Vaccine impact on long-term trends in invasive bacterial disease in New Zealand children. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 37(10), 1041-1047. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002071

Journal - Research Article

The Polaris Observatory HCV Collaborators, including Brunton, C. R., & Stedman, C. (2017). Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015: A modelling study. Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2(3), 161-176. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(16)30181-9

Journal - Research Article

Gane, E., Kershenobich, D., Seguin-Devaux, C., Kristiansen, P., Aho, I., Dalgard, O., … Brunton, C. R., … Stedman, C., … Estes, C. (2015). Strategies to manage hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection disease burden: Volume 2. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 22(Suppl. 1), 46-73. doi: 10.1111/jvh.12352

Journal - Research Article

Hatzakis, A., Chulanov, V., Gadano, A. C., Bergin, C., Ben-Ari, Z., Mossong, J., … Brunton, C. R., … Stedman, C., … Razavi, H. (2015). The present and future disease burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections with today's treatment paradigm: Volume 2. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 22(Suppl. 1), 26-45. doi: 10.1111/jvh.12351

Journal - Research Article

Saraswat, V., Norris, S., de Kneft, R. J., Sanchez Avila, J. F., Sonderup, M., Zuckerman, E., … Stedman, C., … Brunton, C. R., … Gower, E. (2015). Historical epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in select countries: Volume 2. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 22(Suppl. 1), 6-25. doi: 10.1111/jvh.12350

Journal - Research Article

Bartholomew, N., Brunton, C., Mitchell, P., Williamson, J., & Gilpin, B. (2014). A waterborne outbreak of campylobacteriosis in the South Island of New Zealand due to a failure to implement a multi-barrier approach. Journal of Water & Health, 12(3), 555-563. doi: 10.2166/wh.2014.155

Journal - Research Article

Calder, K., Bidwell, S., Brunton, C., & Pink, R. (2014). Evaluation of the Canterbury under-18 seasonal influenza vaccination programme. New Zealand Medical Journal, 127(1398). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Gane, E., Stedman, C., Brunton, C., Radke, S., Henderson, C., Estes, C., & Razavi, H. (2014). Impact of improved treatment on disease burden of chronic hepatitis C in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 127(1407). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Priest, P., McKenzie, J. E., Audas, R., Poore, M., Brunton, C., & Reeves, L. (2014). Hand sanitiser provision for reducing illness absences in primary school children: A cluster randomised trial. PLoS Medicine, 11(8), e1001700. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001700

Journal - Research Article

Sheerin, I., Bartholomew, N., & Brunton, C. (2014). Estimated community costs of an outbreak of campylobacteriosis resulting from contamination of a public water supply in Darfield, New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 127(1391). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Birukila, G., Brunton, C., & Dickson, N. (2013). HIV-related risk factors among black African migrants and refugees in Christchurch, New Zealand: Results from the Mayisha-NZ survey. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1376). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Hudson, B., Toop, L., Mangin, D., Brunton, C., Jennings, L., & Fletcher, L. (2013). Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09: Risk of infection in primary healthcare workers. British Journal of General Practice, 63(611), e416-e422. doi: 10.3399/bjgp13X668212

Journal - Research Article

Priest, P. C., Jennings, L. C., Duncan, A. R., Brunton, C. R., & Baker, M. G. (2013). Effectiveness of border screening for detecting influenza in arriving airline travelers. American Journal of Public Health, 103(8), 1412-1418. doi: 10.2105/ajph.2012.300761

Journal - Research Article

McKenzie, J. E., Priest, P., Audas, R., Poore, M. R., Brunton, C. R., & Reeves, L. M. (2010). Hand sanitisers for reducing illness absences in primary school children in New Zealand: A cluster randomised controlled trial study protocol. Trials, 11, 7. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-11-7

Journal - Research Article

Abel, G. M., Fitzgerald, L. J., & Brunton, C. (2009). The impact of decriminalisation on the number of sex workers in New Zealand. Journal of Social Policy, 38(3), 515-531. doi: 10.1017/s0047279409003080

Journal - Research Article

Duncan, A. R., Priest, P. C., Jennings, L. C., Brunton, C. R., & Baker, M. G. (2009). Screening for influenza infection in international airline travelers. American Journal of Public Health, 99(Suppl. 2), S360-S362. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.158071

Journal - Research Article

Barnett, P., Penny, M., Brunton, C., & Begg, A. (2008). Dispatches from the front-line: An analysis of fluoridation campaigns in southern New Zealand, 2002-2006. New Zealand Dental Journal, 104(4), 139-143.

Journal - Research Article

Abel, G., & Brunton, C. (2005). Young people's use of condoms and their perceived vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 29(3), 254-260.

Journal - Research Article

Brunton, C., Weir, R., Jennings, L., for the National Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunisation Attitudes Study (NIPIAS) Group. (2005). Knowledge and attitudes about influenza vaccination amongst general practitioners, practice nurses, and people aged 65 and over. New Zealand Medical Journal, 118(1214). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1214/1434/content.pdf

Journal - Research Article

Weir, R., Brunton, C. R., & Blakely, T. A. (2002). Chronic liver disease mortality attributable to hepatitis B and C in New Zealand. Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 17(5), 582-588.

Journal - Research Article

Brunton, C. R., Kemp, R., Raynel, P., Harte, D., & Baker, M. G. (2000). Cumulative incidence of hepatitis C seroconversion in a cohort of seronegative injecting drug users. New Zealand Medical Journal, 113, 98-101.

Journal - Research Article

Weir, R., Jennings, L. C., & Brunton, C. R. (2000). Influenza vaccination coverage in Canterbury rest homes. New Zealand Medical Journal, 113, 503-505.

Journal - Research Article

Chalmers, D. J., Marshall, S. W., Langley, J. D., Evans, M. J., Brunton, C. R., Kelly, A. M., & Pickering, A. F. (1996). Height and surfacing as risk factors for injury in falls from playground equipment: a case-control study. Injury Prevention, 2, 98-104.

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Gray, B., Brunton, C., & Barnett, P. (2006). The Law Reform (Epidemic Preparedness) Bill: A proper response to the pandemic threat? [Editorial]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 119(1240). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/119-1240/2124/content.pdf

Journal - Research Other

Brunton, C. R. (2001). Bugs, borders and biosecurity (editorial). Snow's Field, 11(3), 3-4.