PhD, BMid
Honorary Research Fellow
Contact details
Email sarah.donovan@otago.ac.nz
Research interests and activities
Sarah is a Sociologist with a focus on the social determinants of health, and has also worked as a midwife. Her doctoral research (2010) focused on prenatal screening for Down Syndrome in New Zealand, and investigated women's experience of prenatal screening decisions, and the relationship of this experience to cultural norms of ‘health’, and to principles of individual choice and informed consent.
Sarah is part of team funded in 2018-2019 by Lotteries Health to undertake mixed methods research to investigate the reasons why New Zealand’s breastfeeding rates are poor and declining, particularly for Māori, and to work with stakeholders across multiple sectors to identify solutions. The project includes interviews with new mothers and health sector stakeholders to identify structural (rather than educational) barriers to successful breastfeeding, and will also stock take all currently available quantitative data on breastfeeding in NZ in order to identify data gaps. This work will feed into the Ministry of Health refresh of the National Breastfeeding Strategy.
In 2017 Sarah undertook a qualitative study on the personal and professional impact of life disrupting menstrual pain on New Zealand/Aotearoa women aged 18+. Other recent research includes analysing data on age of first menstruation in New Zealand and media advocacy work on the issue of period poverty (particularly among school aged girls - see media coverage) . She has presented at the first ever national hui on period poverty in November 2019, and at a parliamentary forum announcing government action on this issue.
In the department of Primary Care and General Practice she is a member of Wellington Interprofessional Teaching Initiative (WITI) (Louise Beckingsale, Karen Colman, Ben Darlow, Sarah Donovan, Ben Gray, Eileen McKinlay, Hazel Neser, Meredith Perry, Sue Pullon, Christine Wilson) and involved in research on the social organisation of clinical work with the use of the Communities of Clinical Practice tool.
Other professional interests include:
- Breastfeeding as a public health good
- Prevalence and morbidity of menstrual pain in New Zealand
- Period poverty (addressing barriers to access to menstrual management products)
- Inter Professional Education (IPE) for trainee health professionals
- Barriers to the uptake of social security entitlements (i.e. state benefits) in NZ by vulnerable and low-income citizens
- The public health role of midwives
- Public health and economic benefits of promoting low-intervention, low-cost approaches to birth (including stand-alone birthing centres, and homebirth)
Sarah is a member of the Electronic data for Mental health research (EleMent) group: Te Raraunga Hinengaro. EleMent are a multidisciplinary research group bringing together expertise in epidemiology, public health and data science with clinical and lived experience of mental distress. The group use routinely collected electronic data from health and other sources to understand the distribution and determinants of mental health and mental distress, with a focus is on making the best use of available information to improve the mental health of New Zealanders.
Media stories
Public health researcher Dr Sarah Donovan from the University of Otago, Wellington has been invited to give numerous radio and television interviews recently on the topic of girls missing school due to the cost barrier of menstrual products in New Zealand, and the menstrual management needs of primary school age girls not being provided for.
- Period poverty campaigners delighted over $2.2 million Government Budget allocation (One News)
- Primary school 'excludes' girl with period (Radio New Zealand)
- Should sanitary products be free for female school students? (Māori Television )
- Teaching girls about periods should start at primary school, new data suggests (The Spinoff)
- Make sanitary bins standard in primary schools – researcher (Newshub)
- Calls for better education as half of girls get their period before high school (Stuff)
- Period poverty: National hui on menstrual health issues being held in Auckland (Stuff)
- National Period Hui Addresses All Types of Period Poverty (Scoop Independent News)
Publications
Dew, K., & Donovan, S. (2020). Vaccines, polarising divides and the role of public health. Critical Public Health, 30(1), 1-3. doi: 10.1080/09581596.2020.1702286
McKinlay, E., Brown, M., Beckingsale, L., Burrow, M., Coleman, K., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., … Hilder, J., Neser, H., Perry, M., … Pullon, S. (2020). Forming inter-institutional partnerships to offer pre-registration IPE: A focus group study. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 380-387. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2019.1685476
Donovan, S., & Telfar-Barnard, L. (2019). Age of first menstruation in New Zealand: Findings from first ever national-level data and implications for age-appropriate education and support. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1500), 100-102. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
McKinlay, E., Brown, M., Beckingsale, L., Burrow, M., Coleman, K., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., … Gray, B., Hilder, J., Neser, H., Perry, M., … Wilson, C., … Pullon, S. (2019). Improbable ideas that actually work: Forming inter-institutional partnerships to offer pre-registration health sciences interprofessional education. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Conference. (pp. 120-121). Renmark, Australia: ANZAHPE. [Abstract]
Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Darlow, B., Beckingsale, L., Gallagher, P., Donovan, S., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2019, March). Better partnerships: Interprofessional education possibilities. Verbal presentation at the 22nd Asia-Australasia Conference of Radiological Technologists (AACRT) in conjunction with the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy’s 14th National Conference (ASMIRT), Adelaide, Australia.
McKinlay, E., Brown, M., Beckingsale, L., Burrow, M., Coleman, K., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., … Hilder, J., Neser, H., Perry, M., … Pullon, S. (2020). Forming inter-institutional partnerships to offer pre-registration IPE: A focus group study. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 380-387. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2019.1685476
Journal - Research Article
Ombler, J., & Donovan, S. (2018). Rejuvenating radical potential through transdisciplinarity: Art and public health. Counterfutures, 5, 165-192. doi: 10.26686/cf.v5i0.6402
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B., Donovan, S., Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2016). What makes an interprofessional education programme meaningful to students? Findings from focus group interviews with students based in New Zealand. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 30(3), 355-361. doi: 10.3109/13561820.2016.1141189
Journal - Research Article
Darlow, B., Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Donovan, S., Beckingsale, L., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., Stanley, J., & Pullon, S. (2015). The positive impact of interprofessional education: A controlled trial to evaluate a programme for health professional students. BMC Medical Education, 15, 98. doi: 10.1186/s12909-015-0385-3
Journal - Research Article
Dew, K., & Donovan, S. (2020). Vaccines, polarising divides and the role of public health. Critical Public Health, 30(1), 1-3. doi: 10.1080/09581596.2020.1702286
Journal - Research Other
Donovan, S., & Telfar-Barnard, L. (2019). Age of first menstruation in New Zealand: Findings from first ever national-level data and implications for age-appropriate education and support. New Zealand Medical Journal, 132(1500), 100-102. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
Journal - Research Other
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Stanley, J., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2014). Does interprofessional education make a difference to students' attitudes to practice? [Brief communication]. Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences, 45(4), 344-345. doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2014.10.004
Journal - Research Other
Donovan, S. (2018). Caution on menstrual cups. Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, 24(4), 3-4. [Letter].
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
McKinlay, E., Brown, M., Beckingsale, L., Burrow, M., Coleman, K., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., … Gray, B., Hilder, J., Neser, H., Perry, M., … Wilson, C., … Pullon, S. (2019). Improbable ideas that actually work: Forming inter-institutional partnerships to offer pre-registration health sciences interprofessional education. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Conference. (pp. 120-121). Renmark, Australia: ANZAHPE. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Darlow, B., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2018). Learning with, from and about each other: Developing interprofessional education programmes. Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Sciences, 49(Suppl. 1), (pp. S12). doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2018.02.035
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2017). Learn with, from and about each other: Developing an interprofessional programme. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 64(Suppl. 1), (pp. 81). [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2017). Facilitating interprofessional education. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 64(Suppl. 1), (pp. 39). [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Darlow, B., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2017). Guidelines for educators in establishing and sustaining dynamic IPE programmes. Proceedings of the Interprofessional Education Showcase: Incorporating Interprofessional and Collaborative Practice into the Curriculum. Retrieved from https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/faculty/about/news-and-events/events/2017/nov0/21/interprofessional-education-showcase---cmhse.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Wellington Interprofessional Teaching Initiative (WITI), including Beckingsale, L., Coleman, K., Davidson, R., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., Garnett, A., … Gray, B., McKinlay, E., Neser, H., Perry, M., Pullon, S., … Wilson, C., & Brown, M. (2017). Building organisational partnerships to form IPE programmes. Proceedings of the Interprofessional Education Showcase: Incorporating Interprofessional and Collaborative Practice into the Curriculum. Retrieved from https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/faculty/about/news-and-events/events/2017/nov0/21/interprofessional-education-showcase---cmhse.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2016). “We’re all here for the patient”: Exploring the process of interprofessional learning. Radiotherapy & Oncology, 119(Suppl. 1), (pp. S989). doi: 10.1016/S0167-8140(16)33353-9
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Gallagher, P., Perry, M., Beckingsale, L., Gray, B., Neser, H., Donovan, S., Stanley, J., & Pullon, S. (2016). Changes in student attitudes following a pre-registration interprofessional learning experience. Radiotherapy & Oncology, 119(Suppl. 1), (pp. S173-S174). doi: 10.1016/S0167-8140(16)31621-8
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Perry, M., Darlow, B., Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., Neser, H., & Pullon, S. (2016). Development of an interprofessional education teaching team. Proceedings of the Physiotherapy New Zealand Conference. (pp. 96). Retrieved from https://pnz.org.nz/conference
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Stanley, J., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Pullon, S., & Perry, M. (2015). "We're all here for the patient at the end of the day": Exploring the process of interprofessional learning. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) and the Asian Medical Education Association (AMEA) Joint Conference. Adelaide, Australia: ANZAHPE. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Donovan, S., Stanley, J., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Pullon, S., & Perry, M. (2015). Changes in student attitudes following a pre-registration interprofessional learning experience. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) and the Asian Medical Education Association (AMEA) Joint Conference. Adelaide, Australia: ANZAHPE. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Coleman, K., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Donovan, S., Beckingsale, L., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., Stanley, J., & Pullon, S. (2015). Exploring students' views about interprofessional learning and what makes it meaningful. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 62(Suppl. 1), (pp. 42). doi: 10.1002/jmrs.1_112
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Darlow, B., Perry, M., Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Donovan, S., Beckingsale, L., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Stanley, J., & Pullon, S. (2015). The positive impact of interprofessional education: A controlled trial to evaluate a programme for health professional students. Physiotherapy, 101(Suppl. 1), (pp. e294-e295). doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.488
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Perry, M., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Gray, B., Pullon, S., Gallagher, P., Neser, H., & Coleman, K. (2015). “We’re here for the patient at the end of the day”: Perceptions of an IPE programme in long-term conditions management. Physiotherapy, 101(Suppl. 1), (pp. e1195-e1196). doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.2121
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
McKinlay, E., Beckingsale, L., Coleman, K., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2014). Connecting the silos: Developing interprofessional teaching teams and resources to educate undergraduates for long-term conditions management. Proceedings of the Australasian Long-term Conditions Conference. Retrieved from http://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/conference/programme/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Neser, H., Darlow, B., McKinlay, E., Coleman, K., Stanley, J., Beckingsale, L., Gray, B., Perry, M., Donovan, S., Gallagher, P., & Pullon, S. (2015, November). Beyond collaboration: Exploring what makes student interprofessional learning meaningful. Poster session presented at the Psychosocial Oncology New Zealand (PONZ) National Conference, Invercargill, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Coleman, K., McKinlay, E., Darlow, B., Beckingsale, L., Gallagher, P., Donovan, S., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., & Pullon, S. (2019, March). Better partnerships: Interprofessional education possibilities. Verbal presentation at the 22nd Asia-Australasia Conference of Radiological Technologists (AACRT) in conjunction with the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy’s 14th National Conference (ASMIRT), Adelaide, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Beckingsale, L., McKinlay, E., Coleman, K., Darlow, B., Donovan, S., Gray, B., Neser, H., Perry, M., Pullon, S., & Wilson, C. (2015, November). From acorns to oaks: Key elements needed to grow an interprofessional education programme: Wellington Interprofessional Teaching Initiative. Verbal presentation at the Interprofessional Showcase: Evidence and Application, Auckland, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
McKinlay, E., Coleman, K., Beckingsale, L., Darlow, B., Gray, B., Neser, H., Stanley, J., Pullon, S., Gallagher, P., Perry, M., & Donovan, S. (2014, September). Does interprofessional education make a difference to students’ attitudes? Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Interprofessional Health Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Cook, H. and co-signatories, including Aspinall, C., Baker, M., Ball, J., Brewer, N., Cleghorn, C., Cunningham, R., Donovan, S., D'Souza, A., Edwards, R., Fraser, B., Gage, R., Hoek, J., Howden-Chapman, P., Hurley, K., Kvalsvig, A., Kvizhinadze, G., Lawson-Te Aho, K., McIntyre, M. E., Ombler, J., O'Sullivan, K., Pierse, N., Purdie, N., Rangiwhetu, L., Reidy, J., Russel, M., Sarfati, D., Shaw, C., Signal, L., Stanley, J., Thornley, L., Viggers, H., White, M., Wilson, N., and Zhang, W. (2018). Revision of the Abortion Law. Submission to New Zealand Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand. [Government Submission].
Other Research Output
Ombler, J. & Donovan, S. (2017, April). What does art have to do with public health, and how can they work together? Public Health Expert blog. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/2017/04/10/what-does-art-have-to-do-with-public-health-and-how-can-they-work-together/
Other Research Output
