Biography

Caroline de Costa is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the College of Medicine at James Cook University, Cairns Campus in North Queensland, Australia. Caroline has 42 years’ experience in the practice of obstetrics and 40 years in the area of obstetrics research, in particular obstetric epidemiology. She practised as a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist for 35 years. Caroline was born and educated in Sydney and later studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in Dublin, graduating MB BS (London University) and LRCP&SI in 1973. After completing residency in Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua-New Guinea, she returned to Ireland and undertook specialist training there and in the United Kingdom. In 1980 Caroline returned to Port Moresby for a further 18 months as Senior Registrar before moving back to Sydney where she spent 17 years in private practice. In 1999 she moved to Cairns and took up her present appointment in 2004.

 Teaching

 In her university role Caroline teaches the medical students of JCU in their fifth and sixth years as well as supervising honours and PhD research students.

Research/General Interests

 In her clinical practice Caroline became deeply involved in improving outcomes for indigenous women in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology. She conducted research into possible interventions to reduce the incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome amongst the children of indigenous women in Far North Queensland. She has conducted several studies into the vitamin D levels and requirements of pregnant women in Far North Queensland in order to determine whether these differ from those of women in more temperate zones. She a has a major interest in caesarean section, including the history and social implications of this common operation as well as techniques and risks of the surgery.

Much of Caroline’s research over the past ten years has been in the area of abortion service provision and abortion law reform. She has published extensively with multiple co-authors both nationally and internationally on these topics, and has been active and successful in public movements to reform abortion law.

 

Teaching

• MD5010: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 1 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)
• MD5020: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 2 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)
• MD5030: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 3 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Obstetric Epidemiology
• Gynaecological Cancer Screening
• Contraceptive service provision particularly in relation to abortion
• The learning requirements of medical students in regard to obstetrics, gynaecology and women’s health

Teaching

• Obstetrics, gynaecology and women’s health to fifth and sixth year medical students

Research Disciplines

• Reproductive medicine (3215)

Awards

• 2014 - Member of the Order of Australia for services to medicine in particular to the health of Indigenous and immigrant women
• 2014 - President's Medal of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for her contributions to women's reproductive health
• 2013 - Sidney Sax medal of the Public Health Association of Australia

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Abbot S, McWilliams L, Spargo L, De Costa C, Ur-Rehman Z, Proudman S and Bossingham D (2020) Scleroderma in Cairns: an epidemiological study. Internal Medicine Journal, 50 (4), pp. 445-452, DOI:10.1111/imj.14376.
• Jayaratnam S, Jacob-Rodgers S and De Costa C (2020) Characteristics and preventability of obstetric intensive care unit admissions in Far North Queensland. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 60 (6), pp. 871-876, DOI:10.1111/ajo.13198.
• Abdalla O, Woods C and de Costa C (2019) A clinical audit of combined first trimester screening and non-invasive prenatal testing offered to pregnant women in a regional Australian hospital. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 59 (1), pp. 157-160, DOI:10.1111/ajo.12842.
• Barratt A, McGeechan K, Black K, Hamblin J and de Costa C (2019) Knowledge of current abortion law and views on abortion law reform: a community survey of NSW residents. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43 (1), pp. 88-93, DOI:10.1111/1753-6405.12825.
• Cheung N, Coffey A, Woods C and de Costa C (2019) Natural fertility, infertility and the role of medically assisted reproduction: the knowledge amongst women of reproductive age in North Queensland. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 59 (1), pp. 140-146, DOI:10.1111/ajo.12806.
• Cheng H, de Costa C and Woods C (2018) Medical students and midwives: how do they view each other? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 58 (5), pp. 586-589, DOI:10.1111/ajo.12803.
• Gnanendran S, Porrett J, Woods C, Buttrose M, Jukka C, Hollins J, Robson S and de Costa C (2018) A randomised controlled trial of consumption of dark chocolate in pregnancy to reduce pre-eclampsia: difficulties in recruitment, allocation and adherence. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 58 (3), pp. 358-361, DOI:10.1111/ajo.12694.
• Jayaratnam S, Kua S, deCosta C and Franklin R (2018) Maternal 'near miss' collection at an Australian tertiary maternity hospital. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18, Article: 221, DOI:10.1186/s12884-018-1862-6.
• Robson S, de Costa C, Woods C, Ding P and Rane A (2018) Maternal-choice caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth in low-risk primigravid women. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 58 (4), pp. 469-473, DOI:10.1111/ajo.12766.
• Nugent R, De Costa C and Vangaveti V (2017) Caesarean risk in obese women at term: a retrospective cohort analysis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 57 (4), pp. 440-445, DOI:10.1111/ajo.12616.
• Robson S and De Costa C (2017) Thirty years of the World Health Organization's target caesarean section rate: time to move on. Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (4), pp. 181-185, DOI:10.5694/mja16.00832.
• Hogan E, Woods C, Buttrose M, Abenthum L, Cheng H and de Costa C (2016) The changing birth suite experience for Australian medical students. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 56 (5), pp. 537-542, DOI:10.1111/ajo.12495.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 74+ research outputs authored by Prof Caroline de Costa from 2005 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Assessing Severe Obstetric Morbidity in Resource Poor and Developed World Setting (PhD , Primary Advisor)
• Obesity in Pregnancy (PhD , Primary Advisor)

Completed

• 'This line across my belly...' Studies in caesarean section (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.