Amanda Kvalsvig, Department of Public Health, Our people, University of Otago, Wellington, University of Otago, New Zealand

Amanda_Kvalsvig_profile MBChB, MRCPCH, MSc (Epidemiology), PhD (Epidemiology)
Co-Director, HEIRU

Contact details
Research interests and activities
Publications

Contact details

Tel +64 4 385 5541
Fax +64 4 389 5319
Email amanda.kvalsvig@otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities

Dr Amanda Kvalsvig has a dual background in clinical paediatrics and epidemiology, and is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department. Her research activities currently have a strong focus on New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic; she is the lead researcher of Co-Search, a COVID-19 research collaborative led by Professor Michael Baker. She is also lead researcher of SYMBIOTIC, a newly-funded HRC programme led by Michael Baker which aims to investigate the two-way relationships between infectious disease and long-term conditions.

Amanda’s other research interests are centred on the social determinants of health and wellbeing: topics include other infectious diseases (particularly meningococcal disease), breastfeeding, child poverty, and early child development. She supervises postgraduate students undertaking research on these topics, and also has a methodological interest in the challenges of analysing existing data to develop high-quality evidence for policy and practice.

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Publications

Bentley, R., Simons, K., Kvalsvig, A., Milne, B., & Blakely, T. (2021). Short-run effects of poverty on asthma, ear infections and health service use: Analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. International Journal of Epidemiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyab059

Kvalsvig, A., & Baker, M. G. (2021). How Aotearoa New Zealand rapidly revised its Covid-19 response strategy: Lessons for the next pandemic plan. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1891943

Shackleton, N., Li, E., Gibb, S., Kvalsvig, A., Baker, M., Sporle, A., … Milne, B. J. (2021). The relationship between income poverty and child hospitalisations in New Zealand: Evidence from longitudinal household panel data and Census data. PLoS ONE, 16(1), e0243920. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243920

Gray, L., Rose, S. B., Stanley, J., Zhang, J., Tassell-Matamua, N., Puloka, V., Kvalsvig, A., … Murton, S. A., … Baker, M. G. (2021). Factors influencing individual ability to follow physical distancing recommendations in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population survey. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/03036758.2021.1879179

Goldfeld, S., Moreno-Betancur, M., Guo, S., Mensah, F., O'Connor, E., Gray, S., … Kvalsvig, A., … O'Connor, M. (2021). Inequities in children's reading skills: The role of home reading and preschool attendance. Academic Pediatrics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.04.019

Commissioned Report for External Body
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
Other Research Output
Journal - Research Article
Journal - Research Other
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Awarded Doctoral Degree

Commissioned Report for External Body

Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Gray, L., Wilson, N., & Baker, M. (2020). Supporting the COVID-19 pandemic response: Surveillance and outbreak analytics. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago. 33p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-reports

Baker, M., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., Gray, L., Verrall, A., & Wilson, N. (2020). Potential preventive interventions for the “Stamp it out” and “Manage it” phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand. Commissioned by New Zealand Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago. 16p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-and-other-commissioned-reports

Telfar Barnard, L., Wilson, N., Kvalsvig, A., & Baker, M. (2020). Modelled estimates for the spread and health impact of Covid-19 in New Zealand: Revised preliminary report to the NZ Ministry of Health. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago. 15p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-reports

Wilson, N., Telfar Barnard, L., Kvalsvig, A., & Baker, M. (2020). Potential health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic for New Zealand if eradication fails: Report to the NZ Ministry of Health. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago. 22p. Retrieved from https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/covid-19-modelling-reports

Cunningham, R., Kvalsvig, A., Peterson, D., Kuehl, S., Gibb, S., McKenzie, S., Thornley, L., & Every-Palmer, S. (2018). Stocktake report for the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry: A background report prepared for the Inquiry panel. Commissioned by Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry. Wellington, New Zealand: EleMent Research Group, University of Otago. 267p. Retrieved from https://mentalhealth.inquiry.govt.nz/whats-new/resources/university-of-otago-stocktake-report-for-the-mental-health-and-addiction-inquiry

Kvalsvig, A., D'Souza, A., Duncanson, M., & Simpson, J. (2015). Pathways to child health, development and wellbeing: Optimal environments for orchids and dandelions. An overview of the evidence. Commissioned by Ministry of Health. Wellington, New Zealand: University of Otago. 42p.

Kvalsvig, A. (2014). Better health for the new generation: Getting it right from the start. In J. Simpson, G. Oben, E. Craig, J. Adams, A. Wicken, M. Duncanson & A. Reddington (Eds.), The determinants of health for children and young people in the Hutt Valley, Capital & Coast and the Wairarapa DHBs. (pp. 157-178). Dunedin, New Zealand: New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service. [Report Contribution].

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Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report

Wilson, N., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., & Baker, M. G. (2020). Estimating the case fatality risk of COVID-19 using cases from outside China. medRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2020.02.15.20023499

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Other Research Output

Wilson, N., Chambers, T., Kvalsvig, A., Mizdrak, A., Nghiem, N., Summers, J., Baker, M. (2020, July). NZ's "Team of 5 million" has achieved the lowest COVID-19 death rate in the OECD: But there are still gaps in our pandemic response. Public Health Expert blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/2020/07/22/nzs-team-of-5-million-has-achieved-the-lowest-covid-19-death-rate-in-the-oecd-but-there-are-still-gaps-in-our-pandemic-response

Wilson, N., Summers, J., Thomson, G., Kvalsvig, A., Boyd, M., Baker, M. (2020, June). Five key reasons why NZ should have an official inquiry into the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health Expert blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/2020/06/11/five-key-reasons-why-nz-should-have-an-official-inquiry-into-the-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic

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Journal - Research Article

Gray, L., MacDonald, C., Tassell-Matamua, N., Stanley, J., Kvalsvig, A., Zhang, J., Murton, S., … Puloka, V., … Baker, M. G. (2020). Wearing one for the team: Views and attitudes to face covering in New Zealand/Aotearoa during COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown. Journal of Primary Health Care, 12(3), 199-206. doi: 10.1071/HC20089

Wilson, N., Boyd, M., Kvalsvig, A., Chambers, T., & Baker, M. (2020). Public health aspects of the Covid-19 response and opportunities for the post-pandemic era. Policy Quarterly, 16(3), 20-24.

O'Connor, M., Cloney, D., Kvalsvig, A., & Goldfeld, S. (2019). Positive mental health and academic achievement in elementary school: New evidence from a matching analysis. Educational Researcher, 48(4), 205-216. doi: 10.3102/0013189x19848724

Oliver, J., Foster, T., Kvalsvig, A., Williamson, D. A., Baker, M. G., & Pierse, N. (2018). Risk of rehospitalisation and death for vulnerable New Zealand children. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 103(4), 327-334. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-312671

Goldfeld, S., O'Connor, M., Chong, S., Gray, S., O'Connor, E., Woolfenden, S., … Kvalsvig, A., & Badland, H. (2018). The impact of multidimensional disadvantage over childhood on developmental outcomes in Australia. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(5), 1485-1496. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyy087

Goldfeld, S., Kvalsvig, A., Incledon, E., & O'Connor, M. (2017). Epidemiology of positive mental health in a national census of children at school entry. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 71(3), 225-231. doi: 10.1136/jech-2015-207061

Dennaoui, K., Nicholls, R. J., O'connor, M., Tarasuik, J., Kvalsvig, A., & Goldfeld, S. (2016). The English proficiency and academic language skills of Australian bilingual children during the primary school years. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 18(2), 157-165. doi: 10.3109/17549507.2015.1060526

Goldfeld, S., O'Connor, M., Quach, J., Tarasuik, J., & Kvalsvig, A. (2015). Learning trajectories of children with special health care needs across the severity spectrum. Academic Pediatrics, 15(2), 177-184. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2014.09.001

Goldfeld, S., Kvalsvig, A., Incledon, E., O'Connor, M., & Mensah, F. (2014). Predictors of mental health competence in a population cohort of Australian children. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 68, 431-437. doi: 10.1136/jech-2013-203007

O'Connor, M., Howell-Meurs, S., Kvalsvig, A., & Goldfeld, S. (2014). Understanding the impact of special health care needs on early school functioning: A conceptual model. Child: Care, Health & Development, 41(1), 15-22. doi: 10.1111/cch.12164

Kvalsvig, A., O'Connor, M., Redmond, G., & Goldfeld, S. (2014). The unknown citizen: Epidemiological challenges in child mental health. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 68, 1004-1008. doi: 10.1136/jech-2013-203712

Baker, M. G., Telfar Barnard, L., Kvalsvig, A., Verrall, A., Zhang, J., Keall, M., Wilson, N., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2012). Increasing incidence of serious infectious diseases and inequalities in New Zealand: A national epidemiological study. Lancet, 379(9821), 1112-1119. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(11)61780-7

Baker, M. G., Kvalsvig, A., Zhang, J., Lake, R., Sears, A., & Wilson, N. (2012). Declining Guillain-Barré syndrome after campylobacteriosis control, New Zealand, 1988-2010. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 18(2), 226-233. doi: 10.3201/eid1802.111126

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Journal - Research Other

Summers, J., Cheng, H.-Y., Lin, H.-H., Telfar Barnard, L., Kvalsvig, A., Wilson, N., & Baker, M. G. (2020). Potential lessons from the Taiwan and New Zealand health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.10 0 044

Kvalsvig, A., Wilson, N., Chan, L., Febery, S., Roberts, S., Betty, B., & Baker, M. G. (2020). Mass masking: An alternative to a second lockdown in Aotearoa. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1517), 8-13. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Baker, M. G., Kvalsvig, A., Verrall, A. J., Telfar-Barnard, L., & Wilson, N. (2020). New Zealand's elimination strategy for the COVID-19 pandemic and what is required to make it work. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1512), 10-14. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Wilson, N., Kvalsvig, A., Telfar Barnard, L., & Baker, M. G. (2020). Case-fatality risk estimates for COVID-19 calculated by using a lag time for fatality. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(6), 1339-1341. doi: 10.3201/eid2606.200320

Baker, M. G., Kvalsvig, A., & Verrall, A. J. (2020). New Zealand's COVID-19 elimination strategy. Medical Journal of Australia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.5694/mja2.50735

Kvalsvig, A., Summers, J., Gray, L., Telfar Barnard, L., & Baker, M. G. (2020). COVID-19 outbreaks in Aotearoa New Zealand: Urgent action is required to address systematic causes and consequences of border failures. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1527), 8-14. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Kvalsvig, A., & Baker, M. (2006). New Zealand guidelines for early management of meningococcal disease: Time for revision? [Letter]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 119(1235). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/119-1235/2017/content.pdf

Kvalsvig, A. J., & Unsworth, D. J. (2003). The immunopathogenesis of meningococcal disease [Review]. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 56(6), 417-422.

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Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Kvalsvig, A. J. (2014). The joy of cochlear implants: Strategies for dealing with loss of hearing in adulthood. BMJ, 348, g2685. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g2685

Kvalsvig, A. (2003). Ask the elephant. Lancet, 362(December), 2079-2080.

Rowling, A. J., Kvalsvig, A. J., Sharples, P. M., Foot, A. B., & Unsworth, D. J. (2003). Pneumocystis carinii, cytomegalovirus, and severe transient immunodeficiency [Letter to JCP]. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 56(9), 718-719.

Kvalsvig, A. J., & Unsworth, D. J. (2002). Lumbar punctures and meningitis [Letters to the editor]. Pediatrics, 110(5), 1028.

Kvalsvig, A. J., & Unsworth, D. J. (2002). Ethics approvals and quagmires [Clinical and scientific letters]. Clinical Medicine, 2(6), 599.

Kvalsvig, A. J. (2002). Follow up of people fitted with hearing aids: A draft patient information sheet for new hearing aid users [Comment on Follow up of people fitted with hearing aids after adult hearing screening: The need for support after fitting]. BMJ, 325(7375), 1304.

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Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Goldfeld, S., Kvalsvig, A., O'Connor, M., Redmond, G., Incledon, E., & Mensah, F. (2014). Positive mental health in children: A public health concept whose time has come. Proceedings of the New Zealand Population Health Congress: Connecting Communities, Policy and Science. (pp. 90). Retrieved from http://www.pophealthcongress.org.nz/nzphc14/programme/programme

Kvalsvig, A., Baker, M., & Blakely, T. (2014). Prehospital treatment of meningococcal disease in New Zealand: Who gets it and does it work? Proceedings of the New Zealand Population Health Congress: Connecting Communities, Policy and Science. (pp. 186). Retrieved from http://www.pophealthcongress.org.nz/nzphc14/programme/programme

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Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Baker, M., Kvalsvig, A., & Wilson, N. (2020, December). The COVID-19 elimination strategy: Implications and opportunities for New Zealand [Invited]. Verbal presentation at the 6th One Health Aotearoa (OHA) Symposium, [Online].

Kvalsvig, A. (2018, September). Pre-hospital management of meningococcal disease. Verbal presentation at the Otago Spotlight Symposium on Infectious Disease, Wellington, New Zealand.

Duncanson, M., Kvalsvig, A., & D'Souza, A. (2015, October). Optimal environments for both orchid and dandelion children to grow and thrive: An overview of the literature. Verbal presentation at the 2nd Aotearoa New Zealand Childhood Studies Colloquium: What Does Childhood Studies Mean for Research, Policy and Practice? Dunedin, New Zealand.

Baker, M. G., Kvalsvig, A., Zhang, J., Lake, R., Sears, A., & Wilson, N. (2015, November). Guillain-Barre Syndrome incidence declines following successful countrywide control of Campylobacteriosis. Verbal presentation at the 18th International Conference on Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Related Organisms (CHRO), Rotorua, New Zealand.

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Awarded Doctoral Degree

Kvalsvig, A. J. (2018). Pre-hospital antibiotics in meningococcal disease (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/8214

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