This paper assesses the validity of estimating stroke incidence employing discharge data from the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) database, adjusted to reflect evidence from the North Dublin Population Stroke Study (NDPSS). This analysis compares contemporaneous HIPE stroke discharges among...

Stroke imposes an important economic burden worldwide and acute in-patient care accounts for a large proportion of costs in the first year following stroke. Length of stay (LOS) is regarded as a key determinant of in-patient costs and the primary focus of this study is to examine associations...

The financial crisis that manifested itself in late 2007 resulted in a Europe-wide economic crisis by 2009. As the economic climate worsened, Governments and households were put under increased strain and more focus was placed on prioritising expenditures. Across European countries and their...

A new Irish government came to power in March 2011 with the most radical proposals for health system reform in the history of the state, including improving access to healthcare, free GP care for all by 2015 and the introduction of Universal Health Insurance after 2016. All this was to be...

In 2010, 46 per cent of Irish-born mothers were breastfeeding at hospital discharge, in comparison with 84 per cent of non-Irish-born mothers. Using data from the Irish National Perinatal Reporting System, we find that maternal country of birth is a large and highly significant predictor of...

This paper explores levels and trends in the prevalence of caesarean section delivery in Ireland between 1999 and 2006. Over this period the caesarean section rate in Ireland increased by almost one quarter. Using data from the Irish National Perinatal Reporting System we examine the...

The objective of this paper is to assess the currently available literature relating to the labour allocation of farm households. An overview of the theoretical model relating to joint participation and hours of labour supply decisions of farm households is presented; followed by the resulting...

The objective of this paper is to examine the factors affecting both participation in an off-farm job and the number of hours worked off-farm by couples in farm households in an Irish region. Data from 278 farm households in Co. Mayo was analysed to this end. A multivariate examination of key...