Associate Professor Elaine Burns

Director, School Research,
School of Nursing and Midwifery

Associate Professor,
School of Nursing and Midwifery

Biography
Contact
Publications
Projects
Supervision
Teaching
Media

Biography

Elaine Burns is an Associate Professor of Midwifery in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University. Elaine is an experienced midwifery clinician, educator and researcher. Her research is focussed on breastfeeding, midwifery practice/education and the experience of maternity care. In the topic area of breastfeeding Elaine is ranked number 6 in the SciVal list of Top 500 researchers in the Asia/Pacific. Elaine’s work is multidisciplinary and collaborative and is recognised nationally and internationally with a robust publication track record of more than 50 peer reviewed publications, and 60 conference and seminar presentations, including as invited speaker. Elaine has been awarded multiple research grants to further investigate barriers to breastfeeding and models of maternity care. Her work has been cited in broadcast and print media including more than 50,000 readers in articles written for The Conversation. Elaine is passionate about improving support during pregnancy, birth and the early transition to mothering.

This information has been contributed by Associate Professor Burns.

Qualifications

PhD University of Western Sydney
MComNurs University of Sydney
BN University of Wollongong
Dip.App.Sc.-Nursing Nepean CAE

Professional Memberships

Australian College of Midwives (1994 - 2024)

Interests

Gender Equity

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

School of Nursing and Midwifery
School of Nursing and Midwifery

Contact

Email:	E.Burns@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone:	(02) 9685 9818
Mobile:
Location:	EB.LG.43 Parramatta

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

401034 Midwifery Knowledge 3, 2021
401044 Midwifery Practice Experience 5, 2021

Publications

Chapters in Books

Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2016), 'A mirror on practice : using ethnography to identify and facilitate best practice in maternity and child health care', Ethnographic Research in Maternal and Child Health, Taylor & Francis 9781138792203.

Journal Articles

Soltani, S., Hosseinzadeh, M., Mirghafourvand, M., Aghajari, P. and Burns, E. (2024), 'Breastfeeding challenges and the impact of social support in Iranian Muslim mothers : a cross-sectional study', Women and Health, vol 64, no 2 , pp 142 - 152.
Cutajar, L., Dahlen, H., Auwers, A., Vir, S., Berberovic, B., Jedrzejewski, T. and Burns, E. (2023), '68986Model of care matters : an integrative review', Women and Birth, vol 36, no 4 , pp 315 - 326.
Burns, E., Elcombe, E., Pierce, H., Hugman, S. and Gannon, S. (2023), 'Breastfeeding after return to work : an Australian national workplace survey', Maternal and Child Nutrition, vol 19, no 3 .
Morns, M., Steel, A., McIntyre, E. and Burns, E. (2023), 'Breastfeeding aversion response (BAR) : a descriptive study', Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, vol 68, no 4 , pp 430 - 441.
Morns, M., Burns, E., McIntyre, E. and Steel, A. (2023), 'The prevalence of breastfeeding aversion response in Australia : a national cross-sectional survey', Maternal and Child Nutrition, vol 19, no 4 .
Sheehan, A., Dahlen, H., Elmir, R., Burns, E., Coulton, S., Sorensen, K., Duff, M., Arundell, F., Keedle, H. and Schmied, V. (2023), 'The implementation and evaluation of a mentoring program for Bachelor of Midwifery students in the clinical practice environment', Nurse Education in Practice, vol 70 .
Keedle, H., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2022), 'From coercion to respectful care : women's interactions with health care providers when planning a VBAC', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol 22, no 1 .
Blythe, S., Elcombe, E., Peters, K., Burns, E. and Gribble, K. (2022), 'Australian foster carers' views of supporting maternal breastfeeding and attachment in out-of-home care', Child Abuse and Neglect, vol 130, no 3 .
Burns, E., Triandafilidis, Z., Hargreaves, A., Keedle, H., Hitchick, M., Campbell, O. and Elmir, R. (2022), 'Hospital-based Assistant in Midwifery role for undergraduate midwifery students : a survey exploration', Midwifery, vol 110 .
Sheehan, A., Elmir, R., Hammond, A., Schmied, V., Coulton, S., Sorensen, K., Arundell, F., Keedle, H., Dahlen, H. and Burns, E. (2022), 'The midwife-student mentor relationship : creating the virtuous circle', Women and Birth, vol 35, no 5 , pp 512 - 520.
Dawson, J., Foster, J., Jacobs, S., Myers, L. and Burns, E. (2022), 'Cradle hold versus alternate positions for bottle feeding preterm infants (Intervention Protocol)', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol 2022, no 2 , pp 1 - 15.
Morns, M., Steel, A., McIntyre, E. and Burns, E. (2022), '"It makes my skin crawl" : women's experience of breastfeeding aversion response (BAR)', Women and Birth, vol 35, no 6 , pp 582 - 592.
Burns, E., Gannon, S., Pierce, H. and Hugman, S. (2022), 'Corporeal generosity : breastfeeding bodies and female-dominated workplaces', Gender, Work and Organization, vol 29, no 3 , pp 778 - 799.
Phanwichatkul, T., Schmied, V., Liamputtong, P. and Burns, E. (2022), 'The perceptions and practices of Thai health professionals providing maternity care for migrant Burmese women : an ethnographic study', Women and Birth, vol 35, no 4 , pp 356 - 368.
Morns, M., Steel, A., Burns, E. and McIntyre, E. (2021), 'Women who experience feelings of aversion while breastfeeding : a meta-ethnographic review', Women and Birth, vol 34, no 2 , pp 128 - 135.
Sassine, H., Burns, E., Ormsby, S. and Dahlen, H. (2021), 'Why do women choose homebirth in Australia? : a national survey', Women and Birth, vol 34, no 4 , pp 396 - 404.
Burns, E., Duff, M., Leggett, J. and Schmied, V. (2021), 'Emergency scenarios in maternity : an exploratory study of a midwifery and medical student simulation-based learning collaboration', Women and Birth, vol 34, no 6 , pp 563 - 569.
Wright, A., Elcombe, E. and Burns, E. (2021), '"Paper, face-to-face and on my mobile please" : a survey of women's preferred methods of receiving antenatal education', Women and Birth, vol 34, no 6 , pp 547 - 556.
Blythe, S., Peters, K., Elcombe, E., Burns, E. and Gribble, K. (2021), 'Australian foster carers' views and concerns regarding maternal drug use and the safety of breastmilk', Children, vol 8, no 4 .
Stulz, V., Liang, X. and Burns, E. (2021), 'Midwives and women's experiences of Sterile Water Injections for back pain during labour : an integrative review', Midwifery, vol 103 .
Burns, E., Triandafilidis, Z. and Schmied, V. (2020), 'Designing a model of breastfeeding support in Australia : an appreciative inquiry approach', Health and Social Care in the Community, vol 28, no 5 , pp 1723 - 1733.
George, A., Kong, A., Villarosa, A., Duff, M., Sheehan, A., Burns, E., Priddis, H., Chua, C. and Dahlen, H. (2020), 'Implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of an oral health module for the bachelor of midwifery program at an Australian university', Nurse Education Today, vol 90 .
Keedle, H., Peters, L., Schmied, V., Burns, E., Keedle, W., Keedle, W. and Dahlen, H. (2020), 'Women's experiences of planning a vaginal birth after caesarean in different models of maternity care in Australia', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol 20 .
Burns, E., Duursma, L. and Triandafilidis, Z. (2020), 'Breastfeeding support at an Australian Breastfeeding Association drop-in service : a descriptive survey', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol 15, no 1 .
Yang, S., Burns, E., Salamonson, Y. and Schmied, V. (2019), 'Expectations and experiences of nursing students in supporting new mothers to breastfeed : a descriptive qualitative study', Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol 28, no 11 , pp 2340 - 2350.
Yang, S., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Salamonson, Y. (2019), 'Breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students in Taiwan : a cohort study', Women and Birth, vol 32, no 3 , pp 334 - 340.
Phanwichatkul, T., Burns, E., Liamputtong, P. and Schmied, V. (2019), 'Protecting my baby : a qualitative study of the health promoting practices of pregnant Burmese migrant women living in Thailand', International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol 15, no 1 , pp 1 - 16.
Pangas, J., Ogunsiji, O., Elmir, R., Raman, S., Liamputtong, P., Burns, E., Dahlen, H. and Schmied, V. (2019), 'Refugee women's experiences negotiating motherhood and maternity care in a new country : a meta-ethnographic review', International Journal of Nursing Studies, vol 90 , pp 31 - 45.
Keedle, H., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2019), 'A narrative analysis of women's experiences of planning a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) in Australia using critical feminist theory', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol 19 .
Burns, E. and Triandafilidis, Z. (2019), 'Taking the path of least resistance : a qualitative analysis of return to work or study while breastfeeding', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol 14, no 1 .
Stevens, J., Stevens, J., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2019), 'Skin-to-skin contact and what women want in the first hours after a caesarean section', Midwifery, vol 74 , pp 140 - 146.
Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Sheehan, A. (2019), 'Place of sanctuary: an appreciative inquiry approach to discovering how communities support breastfeeding and parenting', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol 14, no 1 .
Phanwichatkul, T., Burns, E., Liamputtong, P. and Schmied, V. (2019), 'Migrant Burmese women living in southern Thailand and motherhood : an ethnographic study', Nursing and Health Sciences, vol 21, no 3 , pp 390 - 398.
Keedle, H., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'The journey from pain to power : a meta-ethnography on women's experiences of vaginal birth after caesarean', Women and Birth, vol 31, no 1 , pp 69 - 79.
Keedle, H., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'The design, development, and evaluation of a qualitative data collection application for pregnant women', Journal of Nursing Scholarship, vol 50, no 1 , pp 47 - 55.
Phanwichatkul, T., Burns, E., Liamputtong, P. and Schmied, V. (2018), 'The experiences of Burmese healthcare interpreters (Iam) in maternity services in Thailand', Women and Birth, vol 31 , pp 152 - 161.
Yang, S., Salamonson, Y., Burns, E. and Schmied, V. (2018), 'Breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes of health professional students : a systematic review', International Breastfeeding Journal, vol 13, no 1 .
Yang, S., Schmied, V., Burns, E., Brodribb, W. and Salamonson, Y. (2018), 'Validation of the Chinese version of the Australian Breastfeeding Attitude Questionnaire', Journal of Human Lactation, vol 34, no 4 , pp 674 - 681.
Stevens, J., Stevens, J., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2018), 'Who owns the baby? : a video ethnography of skin-to-skin contact after a caesarean section', Women and Birth, vol 31, no 6 , pp 453 - 462.
Stevens, J., Stevens, J., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2017), 'Video ethnography during and after caesarean sections : methodological challenges', Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol 26, no 13-14 , pp 2083 - 2092.
Duff, M., Dahlen, H., Burns, E., Priddis, H., Schmied, V. and George, A. (2017), 'Designing an oral health module for the Bachelor of Midwifery program at an Australian university', Nurse Education in Practice, vol 23 , pp 76 - 81.
Burns, E. and Schmied, V. (2017), ''The right help at the right time' : positive constructions of peer and professional support for breastfeeding', Women and Birth, vol 30, no 5 , pp 389 - 397.
Burns, E., Fenwick, J., Sheehan, A. and Schmied, V. (2016), ''This little piranha' : a qualitative analysis of the language used by health professionals and mothers to describe infant behaviour during breastfeeding', Maternal and Child Nutrition, vol 12, no 1 , pp 111 - 124.
Stevens, J., Stevens, J., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2016), 'A juxtaposition of birth and surgery : providing skin-to-skin contact in the operating theatre and recovery', Midwifery, vol 37 , pp 41 - 48.
Jefferies, D., Duff, M., Burns, E. and Nicholls, D. (2015), 'Historical perspectives : a snapshot of women admitted to psychiatric facilities with psychosis or mania after childbirth in the late Victorian and inter-war periods', Journal of Advanced Nursing, .
Keedle, H., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2015), 'Women's reasons for, and experiences of, choosing a homebirth following a caesarean section', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol 15, no 1 .
Stevens, J., Stevens, J., Schmied, V., Burns, E. and Dahlen, H. (2014), 'Immediate or early skin-to-skin contact after a Caesarean section : a review of the literature', Maternal and Child Nutrition, vol 10, no 4 , pp 456 - 473.
Schmied, V., Thomson, G., Byrom, A., Burns, E., Sheehan, A. and Dykes, F. (2014), 'A meta-ethnographic study of health care staff perceptions of the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Health Initiative', Women and Birth, vol 27, no 4 , pp 242 - 249.
Burns, E., Fenwick, J., Sheehan, A. and Schmied, V. (2013), 'Mining for liquid gold : midwifery language and practices associated with early breastfeeding support', Maternal and Child Nutrition, vol 9, no 1 , pp 57 - 73.
Fenwick, J., Burns, E., Sheehan, A. and Schmied, V. (2013), 'We only talk about breast feeding : a discourse analysis of infant feeding messages in antenatal group-based education', Midwifery, vol 29, no 5 , pp 425 - 433.
Burns, E., Schmied, V., Fenwick, J. and Sheehan, A. (2012), 'Liquid gold from the milk bar : constructions of breastmilk and breastfeeding women in the language and practices of midwives', Social Science and Medicine, vol 75, no 10 , pp 1737 - 1745.
Burns, E., Fenwick, J., Schmied, V. and Sheehan, A. (2012), 'Reflexivity in midwifery research : the insider/outsider debate', Midwifery, vol 28, no 1 , pp 52 - 60.
Barclay, L., Longman, J., Schmied, V., Sheehan, A., Rolfe, M., Burns, E. and Fenwick, J. (2012), 'The professionalising of breast feeding : where are we a decade on?', Midwifery, vol 28, no 3 , pp 281 - 290.
Schmied, V., Olley, H., Burns, E., Duff, M., Dennis, C. and Dahlen, H. (2012), 'Contradictions and conflict : a meta-ethnographic study of migrant women's experiences of breastfeeding in a new country', BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol 12, no 163 , pp 1 - 15.
Burns, E., Schmied, V., Sheehan, A. and Fenwick, J. (2010), 'A meta-ethnographic synthesis of women's experience of breastfeeding', Maternal and Child Nutrition, vol 6, no 3 , pp 201 - 219.

Other Publications

2023, '"Meeting the Mum Where She is at": Recommended Best Practice to Support Vulnerable New Mothers', Report
2019, 'Returning to Work After Parental Leave: An Appreciative Inquiry. Vice Chancellor's Gender Equality Fund, Final Report 2019', Report
2018, 'Tackling Maternal Anxiety in the Perinatal Period: Reconceptualising Mothering Narratives', Report
2017, 'Breastfeeding Friendly Communities at WSU: Vice Chancellor's Gender Equality Fund, Final Report 2017', Report

Associate Professor Burns conducts research on pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period, with a particular focus on women's experience of breastfeeding and the transition to mothering. She also examines midwifery education and the employment of midwifery students. Elaine has experience with a variety of qualitative methodologies such as discourse analysis, ethonography, phenomenology, grounded theory and mixed method studies. Elaine has conducted large scale national surveys for the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data and has experience in managing large ARC funded projects including qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods projects. A/Prof Burns has supervised 8 Higher Degree Research students (Domestic and international) to completion and is currently supervising 3 honours students, and 6 Higher Degree Research candidates.