Research Profile

Sara Leitao

Biography

Sara is a researcher in the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre (NPEC), working on national perinatal clinical audits and related research studies. She works on the NPEC’s “Severe Maternal Morbidity” annual clinical audit and on the “Very Low Birth Weight Infant” audit (carried out in partnership with the Vermont Oxford Network).

Sara’s portfolio includes both qualitative and quantitative research. She has a PhD in Psychosocial Occupational Health and an MSc. in Occupational Health, both awarded by the School of Public Health in UCC.

Before moving to the NPEC, she worked in the National Suicide Research Foundation on the case-control study “Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland”, where she was a Senior Researcher and Co-ordinator.

Sara has lectured in University College Cork (Dept. of Epidemiology and Public Health), where she was also a module leader and course co-ordinator for the MSc. in Occupational Health.

Currently, she is involved in various research projects related to maternal morbidities, patient and maternal well-being, quality improvement of care, safety climate and staff well-being. For more information on some of these projects, please see the   NPEC’s research page  (https://www.ucc.ie/en/npec/).

Research Interests

Perinatal Epidemiology
Maternity Care
Public Health
Psychosocial Well-being
Well-being and Work

Publications

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2019)'Safety Climate in Permanent and Contingent Workers: the link with Occupational Accidents and Injuries in Safety Culture'
Leitao, S. & Greiner, B. A. (2019) 'Safety Climate in Permanent and Contingent Workers: the link with Occupational Accidents and Injuries in Safety Culture' In: Safety Climate in Permanent and Contingent Workers: the link with Occupational Accidents and Injuries in Safety Culture. Cork: Progress, Trends and Challenges, Nova Science publishers. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2023)'Discharge age and weight for very preterm infants in six countries: 2012-2020'
Edwards, Erika M.; Greenberg, Lucy T.; Horbar, Jeffrey D.; Gagliardi, Luigi; Adams, Mark; Berger, Angelika; Leitao, Sara; Luyt, Karen; Ehret, Danielle E. Y.; Rogowski, Jeannette A. (2023) 'Discharge age and weight for very preterm infants in six countries: 2012-2020'. Neonatology, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2021)'A review of stillbirth definitions: A rationale for change'
Kelly K;Meaney S;Leitao S;O'Donoghue K; (2021) 'A review of stillbirth definitions: A rationale for change'. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 256 [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Prenatal stress, health, and health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international survey'
Pope, Johanna Olander, Ellinor K. Leitao, Sara Meaney, Sarah Matvienko-Sikar, Karen (2021) 'Prenatal stress, health, and health behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international survey'. Women and Birth,   [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'The impact of COVID-19 on pregnant womens’ experiences and perceptions of antenatal maternity care, social support, and stress-reduction strategies'
Meaney, Sarah Leitao, Sara Olander, Ellinor K. Pope, Johanna Matvienko-Sikar, Karen (2021) 'The impact of COVID-19 on pregnant womens’ experiences and perceptions of antenatal maternity care, social support, and stress-reduction strategies'. Women and Birth, [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Termination of pregnancy: Staff knowledge and training'
Eimear O'Shaughnessy;Keelin O'Donoghue;Sara Leitao; (2021) 'Termination of pregnancy: Staff knowledge and training'. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, [DOI] [Details]
(2021)'Development and evaluation of TEARDROP - a perinatal bereavement care training programme for healthcare professionals'
Sara Leitao;Aenne Helps;Riona Cotter;Keelin O'Donoghue; (2021) 'Development and evaluation of TEARDROP - a perinatal bereavement care training programme for healthcare professionals'. Midwifery, [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Perinatal mortality audits and reviews: Past, present and the way forward'
Helps A;Leitao S;Greene R;O'Donoghue K; (2020) 'Perinatal mortality audits and reviews: Past, present and the way forward'. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 250 [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Irish Inquiry Reports Relating to Perinatal Deaths and Pregnancy Loss Services'
Ä Helps Sara Leitao L O'Byrne R Greene Keelin O'Donoghue (2020) 'Irish Inquiry Reports Relating to Perinatal Deaths and Pregnancy Loss Services'. Irish Medical Journal, 113 (2)   [Details]
(2020)'Differences in levels of stress, social support, health behaviours, and stress-reduction strategies for women pregnant before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and based on phases of pandemic restrictions, in Ireland'
Matvienko-Sikar, Karen Pope, Johanna Cremin, Avril Carr, Hayley Leitao, Sara Olander, Ellinor K. Meaney, Sarah (2020) 'Differences in levels of stress, social support, health behaviours, and stress-reduction strategies for women pregnant before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and based on phases of pandemic restrictions, in Ireland'. Women and Birth,   [DOI] [Details]
(2020)'Impact of bereavement care and pregnancy loss services on families: Findings and recommendations from Irish inquiry reports'
Helps, Änne O'Donoghue, Keelin O'Byrne, Laura Greene, Richard Leitao, Sara (2020) 'Impact of bereavement care and pregnancy loss services on families: Findings and recommendations from Irish inquiry reports'. Midwifery, 91 [DOI] [Details]
(2019)'Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland: optimised methodological approach of a case-control psychological autopsy study'
Arensman E, Larkin C, McCarthy J, Leitao S.et al. (2019) 'Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland: optimised methodological approach of a case-control psychological autopsy study'. BMC Psychiatry, 19 (1) [Details]
(2018)'Health and safety practitioners’ health and wellbeing — The link with safety climate and job demand-control-support'
Leitao, S., Mc Carthy, V. J. C. & Greiner, B. A. (2018) 'Health and safety practitioners’ health and wellbeing — The link with safety climate and job demand-control-support'. Accident Analysis and Prevention, [Details]
(2018)'Health and safety practitioners' health and wellbeing - The link with safety climate and job demand-control-support'
Leitão S;Mc Carthy VJC;Greiner BA; (2018) 'Health and safety practitioners' health and wellbeing - The link with safety climate and job demand-control-support'. Accident; analysis and prevention, 119 [DOI] [Details]
(2017)'Psychosocial, Health Promotion and Safety Culture management - Are Health and Safety Practitioners involved?'
Leitao, S;Greiner, BA (2017) 'Psychosocial, Health Promotion and Safety Culture management - Are Health and Safety Practitioners involved?'. Safety Science, 91 :84-92 [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Psychosocial, Health Promotion and Safety Culture Management - Are Health and Safety Practitioners involved?'
Leitão, S., & Greiner, B. A. (2016) 'Psychosocial, Health Promotion and Safety Culture Management - Are Health and Safety Practitioners involved?'. Safety Science, [Details]
(2016)'Organisational safety climate and occupational accidents and injuries: an epidemiology-based systematic review'
Leitão, S., & Greiner, B. A. (2016) 'Organisational safety climate and occupational accidents and injuries: an epidemiology-based systematic review'. Work and Stress, [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2016)12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP)
Sara Leitao, Birgit A. Greiner, Celine Larkin, Jacklyn McCarthy, Ella Arensman (2016) Unemployment and work- related factors in suicidal behaviour: Findings from the Suicide Support and Information System in Ireland 12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) [Details]

Published Reports

 YearPublication
(2019)Very Low Birth Weight Infants in the Republic of Ireland Annual Report 2017.
Leitao S, Twomey A, Murphy BP, Corcoran P, Drummond L, Greene RA, on behalf of NICORE Republic of Ireland. (2019) Very Low Birth Weight Infants in the Republic of Ireland Annual Report 2017. National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Cork. [Details]
(2019)Severe Maternal Morbidity in Ireland Annual Report 2017.
Leitao S, Manning E, Corcoran P, McKernan J, de Foubert P, Greene RA, on behalf of the Severe Maternal Morbidity Group. (2019) Severe Maternal Morbidity in Ireland Annual Report 2017. National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Cork. [Details]
(2018)Perinatal Mortality in Ireland Annual Report 2016.
Manning E, Leitao S, Corcoran P, McKernan J, de Foubert P, Greene RA, on behalf of the Perinatal Mortality Group. (2018) Perinatal Mortality in Ireland Annual Report 2016. National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Cork.   [Details]
(2018)Severe Maternal Morbidity in Ireland Annual Report 2016.
Manning E, Leitao S, Corcoran P, McKernan J, de Foubert P, Greene RA, on behalf of the Severe Maternal Morbidity Group (2018) Severe Maternal Morbidity in Ireland Annual Report 2016. National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Cork.   [Details]
(2015)Management of safety climate and the psychosocial work environment – New challenges for occupational health and safety professionals?.
Leitao, S. (2015) Management of safety climate and the psychosocial work environment – New challenges for occupational health and safety professionals?. University College Cork, Cork. [Details]
(2014)Safety Climate - Jansen Study Report.
Leitao, S. (2014) Safety Climate - Jansen Study Report. Jansen, Cork. [Details]
(2009)Risks and Hazards affecting Health and Safety Advisors.
Leitao, S. (2009) Risks and Hazards affecting Health and Safety Advisors. University College Cork, Cork. [Details]
(2006)Risk and Hazards in Farming in Portugal.
Leitao, S., Gomes, H., Ferreira, C. & Pereira, R. (2006) Risk and Hazards in Farming in Portugal. Escola Superior da Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Lisbon. [Details]

PhD Thesis

 YearPublication
(2015)Management of safety climate and the psychosocial work environment – New challenges for occupational health and safety professionals?.
Sara Leitao (2015) Management of safety climate and the psychosocial work environment – New challenges for occupational health and safety professionals?. Cork, Ireland: PhD Thesis   [DOI] [Details]

Professional Activities

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2016Jacqueline Horgan Bronze Medal (Finalist) Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland - Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine Section
2016Research Excellence Award Irish Association of Suicidology

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2019)Soc Soc Med 2019,
Leitao, S. (2019) Specific maternal morbidities in Ireland: quantifying their magnitude. [Poster Presentation], Soc Soc Med 2019, Cork . [Details]
(2019)Europaediatrics 2019,
Leitao, S. (2019) Mortality Risk Amongst Very Low Birth Weight Infants Born in the Republic of Ireland. [Poster Presentation], Europaediatrics 2019, Dublin . [Details]
(2019)Soc Soc Med 2019,
Leitao, S. (2019) Mortality Risk Amongst Very Low Birth Weight Infants Born in the Republic of Ireland. [Oral Presentation], Soc Soc Med 2019, Cork . [Details]
(2016)ENGAGE Interdisciplinary Clinical Mental Health Research Network Launch,
Arensman E., McCarthy J., Larkin C, Leitão S, Cassidy E. (2016) Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], ENGAGE Interdisciplinary Clinical Mental Health Research Network Launch, Cork . [Details]
(2016)ENGAGE Interdisciplinary Clinical Mental Health Research Network Launch,
McCarthy J., Arensman E., Larkin C., Leitão S., Cassidy E. (2016) Recruiting and interviewing people who have engaged in high-risk suicidal behaviour. [Oral Presentation], ENGAGE Interdisciplinary Clinical Mental Health Research Network Launch, Cork . [Details]
(2016)The 12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference,
Leitão S, Greiner B, Larkin C, McCarthy J, McAuliffe C, Corcoran P, Williamson E, Arensman E. (2016) Unemployment and work- related factors in suicidal behaviour: Findings from the Suicide Support and Information System in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], The 12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference, Athens . [Details]
(2016)The 12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference,
Leitão, S., Greiner, B. A. (2016) Psychosocial, Health Promotion and Safety Culture Management - Are Health and Safety Practitioners involved?. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], The 12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference, Athens . [Details]
(2016)The 20th Annual Conference of Irish Association of Suicidology,
Leitão S, Greiner B, Larkin C, McCarthy J, McAuliffe C, Corcoran P, Williamson E, Arensman E. (2016) Unemployment and work- related factors in suicidal behaviour: Findings from the Suicide Support and Information System in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], The 20th Annual Conference of Irish Association of Suicidology, Cork . [Details]
(2015)The 28th World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention,
Leitão S., Greiner B., Larkin C., McCarthy J., McAuliffe C., Corcoran P., Williamson E., Arensman E. (2015) Unemployment and Work-Related Factors in Suicidal Behaviour: Findings from the Suicide Support and Information System in Ireland. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], The 28th World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, Montreal . [Details]
(2015)The 2015 IASR/AFSP International Summit on Suicide Research,
Larkin C., McCarthy J., Leitão S., Greiner B.A., Williamson E., Arensman E. (2015) Data sources in psychological autopsy research: Assessing the consistency of information obtained through the Suicide Support and Information System in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], The 2015 IASR/AFSP International Summit on Suicide Research, New York . [Details]
(2015)WOS 2015 - Working on Safety,
Sara Leitao, Birgit A. Greiner (2015) Safety Climate and Job demand-control-support: impact on Health and Safety Practitioners wellbeing and efficacy. [Oral Presentation], WOS 2015 - Working on Safety, Porto, Portugal . [Details]
(2015)Research Group Meeting, Cork University Hospital,
Arensman E., Larkin C., McCarthy J., Leitão S. (2015) Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland: A case-control study (SSIS-ACE). [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Research Group Meeting, Cork University Hospital, Cork . [Details]
(2014)XX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work,
Sara Leitao, Birgit A. Greiner (2014) Safety Climate and occupational accidents and injuries: differences among permanent and contingent workers. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], XX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, Frankfurt, Germany . [Details]
(2014)Lives less Known: Resilience and Inclusion in Mental Health Centre for Recovery and Social Inclusion,
Larkin C., Arensman E., Greiner B.A., McCarthy J., Leitão S., Williamson E. (2014) Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland: The SSIS-ACE case-control study. [Oral Presentation], Lives less Known: Resilience and Inclusion in Mental Health Centre for Recovery and Social Inclusion, Cork . [Details]
(2014)UCC College of Medicine and Health Conference,
Larkin C., Arensman E., Greiner B.A., McCarthy J., Leitão S., Williamson E. (2014) Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland: The SSIS-ACE case-control study. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], UCC College of Medicine and Health Conference, Cork . [Details]
(2014)The 12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference,
Leitão, S., Greiner, B. A. (2014) Safety Climate and occupational accidents and injuries: differences among permanent and contingent workers. [Oral Presentation], The 12th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference, London . [Details]
(2014)The Launch-Seminar: Responding to Suicidal Crisis – Research, Policy and Practice in Ireland,
Arensman E., Larkin C., McCarthy J., Leitão S., Greiner B., Williamson E. (2014) Psychosocial, psychiatric and work-related risk factors associated with suicide in Ireland: A case-control study (SSIS-ACE). [Invited Lectures (Conference)], The Launch-Seminar: Responding to Suicidal Crisis – Research, Policy and Practice in Ireland, Cork . [Details]
(2012)The 11th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference,
Leitão, S., Greiner, B. A. (2012) The influence of Safety Climate on Occupational Accident and Injury rates - Systematic review of the scientific evidence. [Oral Presentation], The 11th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference, Zurich . [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
Pedagogic Council for the Environmental Health Course at Lisbon School of Health Technologies Student Representative/
UCC School of Medicine and Health Postgraduate Student Committe Head / Secretary/
Executive Committee of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. Member/

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork Co-ordinator of the Masters in Occupational Health01-MAY-11 / 31-DEC-13
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork Post-Doctoral Researcher in Occupational Health01-OCT-15 / 01-OCT-16
National Suicide Research Foundation Senior Researcher / Primary Care Liaison Manager01-SEP-15 / 30-APR-17
Dept. of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork Lecturer in Occupational Health01-OCT-16 / 31-JUL-17
National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre Researcher / Audit Project Manager for the Very Low Birthweight Infant Audit in Ireland01-AUG-17 /
National Suicide Research Foundation Research Officer01-JAN-14 / 01-SEP-15
Janssen Pharmaceutical Safety Climate Research Officer01-MAR-13 / 31-JUL-13

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2019Department of Mechanical, Biomedical and Manufacturing Engineering, Cork Institute of Technology CertificateProject Management
2015University College Cork PhDOccupational Health
2009University College Cork MScOccupational Health
2006Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Portugal (Lisbon School of Health and Technology) DegreeEnvironmental Health

Languages

 LanguageReadingWritingSpeaking
English FluentFluentFluent
Portuguese FluentFluentFluent

Other Activities

 Description

Auditor of the Postgraduate Society (2012/2013)

Co-organiser of the “I Congresso do Departamento das Ciências e Tecnologias Laboratoriais e de Intervenção Comunitária” (1st Congress of de Science and Laboratorial Technologies) in May of 2004

Co-author and developer of the on-line Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection (with the Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UCC)

Co-organiser of the “I Jornadas de Ciências Sociais e Humanas em Saúde” (1st Conference of social and human sciences in health) in March of 2004

Conference Coordinator: “First Irish Multidisciplinary Occupational Health Conference: Scientific Research for Practice in Workplace Health, Safety and Wellbeing” 

Webmaster for the webpage of the postgraduate course MSc in Occupational Health, UCC

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

•          Health and Safety and Health Protection
•          Environment and Health – Global Health Protection
•          Health Promotion
•          Introduction to Occupational Epidemiology
•          Basic Research Skills
•          Managing Occupational Stress
•          Referencing and literacy skills
•          Environmental Health 

Taught Seminars and Tutorials on: 
•          SPSS labs in: Data input, descriptive and inferential statistics, data analysis.
•          MPH and MSc student Theses
•          Research Skills
•          Systematic and Literature Reviewing
•          Presentation and PowerPoint Skill
•          Time Management

Contact details


Search profiles by name

Search profiles by topic

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

Top