Profile

Contact Details

Phone: +64 3 479 7278
Email: sherly.parackal@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Centre for International Health

Position

Senior Research Fellow

Qualifications

BSc (Chemistry, Botany, Zoology), PG Dip (Food Science and Nutrition), MSc (Food Service Management and Dietetics), PG Dip (Nutritional Science), PhD (Nutritional Science)

Research summary

Diet-related non-communicable diseases in the Asia-Pacific region, migrant health, Asian health, ethnic-specific dietary assessment, community-centred intervention design, development and implementation (co-design)

Memberships

Global Diabetes Research Network for South Asians (Global DISHA) http://globaldisha.org/
Otago Global Health Institute http://www.otago.ac.nz/global-health/people/index.html
Public Health Association of New Zealand
Fetal Alcohol Network New Zealand (FANNZ)
Life member of the Indian Dietetic Association
Nutrition Society of New Zealand

Research

Sherly is the research lead in non-communicable diseases (Epidemiology and Prevention) at the Centre for International Health.

Sherly migrated to New Zealand from Southern India in the mid-nineties. Since 2010, she has worked towards improving the health and well-being of ethnic migrants in Aotearoa, New Zealand with a particular focus on addressing diet-related NCDs. Sherly is the Principal Investigator of the EMIGRATE project, investigating the health trajectory of ethnic voluntary migrants in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Sherly, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University, is also leading diabetes prevention project in Bandung, Indonesia.

Projects

Student projects as primary supervisor

Co-designing a diabetes prevention program for urban communities in Bandung, Indonesia.
Candidate: Mrs Noormarina Indraswari
Degree: PhD

Postdoctoral supervision

Improving service delivery for NZ South Asian women with gestational diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Candidate: Dr Sumera Akhtar

Funding: HRC Career Development Award, 2024

Abstract: South Asian women are at high risk of developing gestational diabetes and are almost four times more likely than other New Zealand ethnicities. Women with gestational diabetes are seven times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes(T2DM) within five to ten years of an index pregnancy. Despite the higher rates of GDM among South Asians, there is a gap in our understanding of the lived experiences, knowledge and management of GDM, which would inform and improve GDM care for NZ South Asian women.

Publications

Parackal, S. (2023, November). Co-design in action to address diet related non-communicable diseases in an underserved population. Verbal presentation at the Otago Global Health Institute (OGHI) 15th Annual Conference: Aotearoa New Zealand's Contribution to Global Health: Global Citizen versus Good Neighbour? Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Parackal, S., Parackal, M., & Akhtar, S. S. (2023). A cross-sectional study on alcohol and contraception use among sexually active women of childbearing age: Implications for preventing alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Women's Health, 19, 1-10. doi: 10.1177/17455057231161479 Journal - Research Article

Xiang, V., Parackal, S., Gurung, G., & Subramaniam, R. (2023). Asian migrants navigating New Zealand primary care: A qualitative study. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(1), 30-37. doi: 10.1071/hc22132 Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S. (2023). Post-migration food habits of New Zealand South Asian migrants: Implications for health promotion practice. Journal of Migration & Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jmh.2023.100182 Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S., Coppell, K., Lam Yang, C., Sullivan, T., & Subramaniam, R. (2021). Hidden figures and misnomers: A case for disaggregated Asian health statistics in Aotearoa New Zealand to improve health outcomes. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1546), 109-116. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal Journal - Research Other

2023

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2021

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S., Skidmore, P., Fleming, L., Bailey, K., Bradbury, K., & Wall, C. (2021). Stepwise tailoring and test-retest of reproducibility of an ethnic specific food frequency questionnaire for South Asians in New Zealand. Public Health Nutrition, 24(9), 2447-2454. doi: 10.1017/s1368980021001208

Parackal, M., Parackal, S., Mather, D., & Eusebius, S. (2021). Dynamic transactional model: A framework for communicating public health messages via social media. Perspectives in Public Health, 141(5), 279-286. doi: 10.1177/1757913920935910

Journal - Research Other

2020

Journal - Research Article

Sam, C. H. Y., Skidmore, P., Skeaff, S., Parackal, S., Wall, C., & Bradbury, K. E. (2020). Relative validity and reproductivity of a short food frequency questionnaire to assess nutrient intakes of New Zealand adults. Nutrients, 12(3), 619. doi: 10.3390/nu12030619

Parackal, S., Smith, C., & Skidmore, P. (2020). Diet quality, nutrient intakes and biochemical status of New Zealand women of childbearing age according to alcohol consumption patterns. Public Health Nutrition, 23(16), 2952-2962. doi: 10.1017/s1368980019003781

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Parackal, S. (2020, February). Co-designing a culturally sensitive appropriate intervention to prolong the healthy migrant status of South Asian (SA) migrants. Verbal presentation at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine In-House Convention, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2019

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S., Parackal, M., & Harraway, J. (2019). Associated factors of drinking prior to recognising pregnancy and risky drinking among New Zealand women aged 18 to 35 Years. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 16(10), 1822. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101822

Parackal, M., & Parackal, S. (2019). A renewed media-mix, based on the dynamic transactional model, for communicating the harms of alcohol to women in New Zealand. Health Promotion International, 34, 921-930. doi: 10.1093/heapro/day033

2018

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Parackal, S. (2018, February). The South Asian Diet Study: Purpose and opportunities. Verbal presentation at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine In-House Convention, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Parackal, S. (2018, February). Exploring home and host country factors to prolong the health migrant status of Asian migrants. Verbal presentation at the Global Migrations Conference, Dunedin, New Zealaqnd.

Other Research Output

Parackal, S. (2018, May). High risk plus low risk equals no risk? Asian health statistics in New Zealand. Public Health Seminar Series, Department of Preventive & Social Medicine in association with the Public Health Association Otago/Southland, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2017

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S., Stewart, J., & Ho, E. (2017). Exploring reasons for ethnic disparities in diet- and lifestyle-related chronic disease for Asian sub-groups in New Zealand: A scoping exercise. Ethnicity & Health, 22(4), 333-347. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2016.1246424

Parackal, M., Parackal, S., Eusebius, S., & Mather, D. (2017). The use of Facebook advertising for communicating public health messages: A campaign against drinking during pregnancy in New Zealand. JMIR Public Health & Surveillance, 3(3), e49. doi: 10.2196/publichealth.7032

Parackal, M., & Parackal, S. (2017). Implication of alcohol consumption on aggregate wellbeing. Perspectives in Public Health, 137(4), 220-226. doi: 10.1177/1757913916669538

Parackal, S. (2017). Dietary transition in the South Asian diaspora: Implications for diabetes prevention strategies. Current Diabetes Reviews, 13(5), 482-487. doi: 10.2174/1573399812666160901094741

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Parackal, S., & Parackal, M. (2017). Unravelling the pathways of alcohol exposed pregnancies in New Zealand. Proceedings of the New Zealand Public Health Association (PHA) Conference. 52. Retrieved from http://www.conference.co.nz/phanz17

Parackal, S. (2017). Prolonging the healthy migrant status of Asian migrants: Are we there yet? Proceedings of the New Zealand Public Health Association (PHA) Conference. 51. Retrieved from http://www.conference.co.nz/phanz17

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Parackal, S. (2017, September). Working together to address alcohol consumption in pregnancy in NZ. Verbal presentation at the Symposium in honour of Associate Professor John Harraway, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Parackal, S. (2017, May). Alcohol consumption during pregnancy in NZ. Luncheon Seminar, Ashburn Clinic, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Research Presentation].

Parackal, S. (2017, April). Health status of "Asians" in New Zealand. Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Parackal, M., Parackal, S., & Eusebius, S. (2016). Facebook advertising: A channel for delivering social messages. In D. Fortin & L. K. Ozanne (Eds.), Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (ANZMAC): Marketing in a Post-Disciplinary Era. (pp. 871). Christchurch, New Zealand: Department of Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship, University of Canterbury. [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Parackal, S. (2016, June). Salient findings from the thematic analysis of wave one of the Don’t know? Don’t drink Facebook campaign. Verbal presentation at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine In-House Convention, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Parackal, S. (2016, September). Unravelling the pathways of alcohol exposed pregnancies in New Zealand. Public Health Seminar Series, Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2015

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S. M., Smith, C., & Parnell, W. R. (2015). A profile of New Zealand 'Asian' participants of the 2008/09 Adult National Nutrition Survey: Focus on dietary habits, nutrient intakes and health outcomes. Public Health Nutrition, 18(5), 893-904. doi: 10.1017/S1368980014001049

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Parackal, S., & Ho, E. (2015). Dietary habits and physical activity of Asian immigrants in home and host (NZ) country: Findings of the migrant health pilot study. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Otago International Health Research Network (OIHRN) Conference. (pp. 8). Retrieved from http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/international_hlth

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Parackal, S. (2015, November). Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders in New Zealand. Verbal presentation at the Toxicology Symposium: Toxicology for the Modern Researcher, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2014

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Parackal, S., & Ho, E. (2014). Prolonging the Healthy Migrant Status (PHMS) of Asian migrants: Focus on developing a culturally appropriate methodology. Proceedings of the New Zealand Population Health Congress: Connecting Communities, Policy and Science. (pp. 204). Retrieved from http://www.pophealthcongress.org.nz/nzphc14/programme/programme

Parackal, M., & Parackal, S. (2014). An S-D logic based communication strategy to inform New Zealand women of zero alcohol in pregnancy. In E. Bigne (Ed.), Proceedings of the 43rd European Marketing Academy (EMAC) Conference: Paradigm Shifts & Interactions. (pp. 121). EMAC. [Abstract]

2013

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S. M., Parackal, M. K., & Harraway, J. A. (2013). Prevalence and correlates of drinking in early pregnancy among women who stopped drinking on pregnancy recognition. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 17(3), 520-529. doi: 10.1007/s10995-012-1026-7

2012

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Anderson, A., Parackal, S., Ricacha, N., & Zhou, L. (2012). Awareness of primary health care organisations by Asian immigrants in the Waitemata region of Auckland: Why and how of the assessment process. In A. Sobrun-Maharaj, F. Rossen, S. Parackal & S. Nayar (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fifth International Asian and Ethnic Minority Health and Wellbeing Conference: Social Environment, Migration, and Health. (pp. 126-130). Auckland, New Zealand: Centre for Asian and Ethnic Minority Health Research (CAHRE), University of Auckland. [Full Paper]

Seesaengnom, D., Parackal, S., & Ho, E. (2012). Utilisation of and barriers to accessing primary health care services in New Zealand: A cross-sectional survey of Thai adults living in Auckland. In A. Sobrun-Maharaj, F. Rossen, S. Parackal & S. Nayar (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fifth International Asian and Ethnic Minority Health and Wellbeing Conference: Social Environment, Migration, and Health. (pp. 114-125). Auckland, New Zealand: Centre for Asian and Ethnic Minority Health Research (CAHRE), University of Auckland. [Full Paper]

2011

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Parackal, M., Parackal, S., & Harraway, J. (2011). Micro-level stratification: A sampling method to eliminate post survey weighting. Proceedings of the Population Association of New Zealand (PANZ) Conference: New Zealand's Demographic Futures: Where to from here? PANZ. Retrieved from http://www.population.org.nz/2007-conference/2011-conference-presentations/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Parackal, S. M., Parackal, M. K., & Harraway, J. A. (2011, March). Alcohol consumption among a national sample of New Zealand women of childbearing age. Verbal presentation at the 4th International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: The Power of Knowledge: Integrating Research, Policy, and Promising Practice Around the World, Vancouver, Canada.

2010

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S. M., Parackal, M. K., & Harraway, J. A. (2010). Warning labels on alcohol containers as a source of information on alcohol consumption in pregnancy among New Zealand women. International Journal of Drug Policy, 21(4), 302-305. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.10.006

2009

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S. M., Parackal, M. K., Harraway, J. A., & Ferguson, E. L. (2009). Opinions of non-pregnant New Zealand women aged 16-40 years about the safety of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Drug & Alcohol Review, 28(2), 135-141. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2008.00018.x

2007

Journal - Research Article

Parackal, S., Ferguson, E., & Harraway, J. (2007). Alcohol and tobacco consumption among 6-24-months post-partum New Zealand women. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 3, 40-51.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Parackal, M., Parackal, S., Ferguson, E., & Harraway, J. (2007). An application of the verbal probability scale for estimating socially undesirable behaviour. In M. Thyne, K. R. Deans & J. Gnoth (Eds.), Proceedings of the Australia and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference. [CD-ROM], (pp. 3461-3468). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Marketing, University of Otago. [Full Paper]

2006

Commissioned Report for External Body

Parackal, S., Parackal, M., Ferguson, E., & Harraway, J. (2006). Awareness of the effects of alcohol use during pregnancy among New Zealand women of childbearing age (Alcohol in Pregnancy Study). Commissioned by Alcohol Advisory Council and Ministry of Health. Dunedin, New Zealand: University of Otago. 35p.

2004

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Ferguson, E., Parackal, S., & Gibson, R. (2004, November). Zinc status of 6-24 month old New Zealand children and their mothers. Verbal presentation at the IZiNCG Symposium: 'Moving Zinc into the Micronutrient Program Agenda', Lima, Peru.

2002

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Parackal, M., & Parackal, S. (2002). Database driven web-based survey approach for forecasting adoption of new technology based products. In D. Bloesch (Ed.), Proceedings of the 26th CIRET Conference. http:/www., (pp. 1-12). Zurich: Swiss Institute for Business Cycle Research. [Full Paper]