![Dr Kath Benfer](/sites/default/files/profiles/13671.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Dr Kath Benfer is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, The University of Queensland. Her Post-Doctoral work focuses on community-based early detection and intervention for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in low-resource countries (India and Bangladesh). She was awarded the prestigious Endeavour Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship through the Australian Commonwealth Government to conduct the study. Kath’s PhD explored oropharyngeal dysphagia, gross motor function, growth and nutrition in preschool children with cerebral palsy, in both Australia and Bangladesh. Her work arising from her doctoral studies has been published in 10 peer-reviewed publications and presented widely at international conferences. Dr Benfer has over 12 years of experience as a speech pathologist within paediatric disability, with community-based child and family support services. Kath also has an interest in cross-cultural issues in child health, having worked in Bangladesh for over 2 years both as an AusAid volunteer teaching on the country’s first Bachelor of Speech Therapy degree, as well as conducting research in this context. She has completed her Master of Public Health at La Trobe University in Melbourne within the research and international health streams.
Availability
- Dr Kath Benfer is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, La Trobe University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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First Nations access to allied healthcare
Peer delivered service delivery models for infants with cerebral palsy
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International child health
Parent-delivered interventions for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in low income countries
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Oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy
Prevalence and patterns of oropharyngeal dysphagia, including screening and assessment
Research impacts
My doctoral research was the first to explore prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in a population-based cohort of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) using direct clinical measures; resulting in publication in Pediatrics (Benfer 2013). My thesis established new synthesis and testing of OPD measure psychometrics (Benfer 2012a, 2014c), improving the validity of my prevalence results. OPD was found in majority of children with CP (Benfer 2013) and not limited to those with poor gross motor function (Benfer 2015a, 2014a, 2013). Functional limitations were described in relation to gross motor function, enabling earlier screening and intervention. This study was replicated in a comparative study of children with CP in Bangladesh. It was unique in that it employed consistent methods and raters for CP diagnosis and functional ratings; enabling greater insight into the markedly different clinical picture of CP in a low-resource setting (Benfer 2014, Benfer 2016). This work earned a nomination for the international Gayle Arnold Award for Excellence and publication in Pediatrics (Benfer 2014). My contributions to research in the field of disability in Bangladesh are not limited to my own outputs, but also include supervision of masters and honours students, and research mentoring of clinicians. As a new researcher, my work has had a significant impact, including 13 publications, 143 citations, and 37 conference presentations (31 international).
Works
Search Professor Kath Benfer’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
The pediatric subjective global nutrition assessment classifies more children with cerebral palsy as malnourished compared with anthropometry
Bell, Kristie L., Benfer, Katherine A., Ware, Robert S., Patrao, Tania A., Garvey, Josephine J., Haddow, Rachel, Boyd, Roslyn N., Davies, Peter S.W., Arvedson, Joan C. and Weir, Kelly A. (2020). The pediatric subjective global nutrition assessment classifies more children with cerebral palsy as malnourished compared with anthropometry. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 (11), 1893-1901. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2020.04.012
2020
Book Chapter
Feeding and nutritional management strategies
Bell, Kristie L., Benfer, Katherine A. and Weir, Kelly A. (2020). Feeding and nutritional management strategies. Nutrition and neurodisability. (pp. 1-208) edited by Peter B. Sullivan, Guro L. Andersen and Morag J. Andrew. London, United Kingdom: Mac Keith Press.
2020
Conference Publication
Efficacy of parent-implemented early interventions in low-and-middle income counties for children with cerebral palsy to improve parent mental health: systematic review
Branjerdporn, N., Sakzewski, L., Benfer, K., Crawford, E., Ziviani, J. and Boyd, R. (2020). Efficacy of parent-implemented early interventions in low-and-middle income counties for children with cerebral palsy to improve parent mental health: systematic review. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Perth, Australia, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2020
Conference Publication
Mothers' perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in West Bengal, India
Branjerdporn, N., Crawford, E., Ziviani, J., Boyd, R., Sakzewski, L. and Benfer, K. (2020). Mothers' perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in West Bengal, India. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Perth, Australia, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2019
Journal Article
Development and validation of a screening tool for feeding/swallowing difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy
Bell, Kristie L, Benfer, Katherine A., Ware, Robert S., Patrao, Tania A., Garvey, Josephine J., Arvedson, Joan C., Boyd, Roslyn N., Davies, Peter S.W. and Weir, Kelly A. (2019). Development and validation of a screening tool for feeding/swallowing difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 61 (10) dmcn.14220, 1175-1181. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.14220
2018
Journal Article
Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention programme for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low-resource country (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents (LEAP-CP): protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Benfer, Katherine A., Novak, Iona, Morgan, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Khan, Naila Zaman, Ware, Robert S., Bell, Kristie L., Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Salt, Alison, Ghosh, Asis Kumar, Bhattacharya, Anjan, Samanta, Sandip, Moula, Golam, Bose, Dilip, Tripathi, Santanu and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2018). Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention programme for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low-resource country (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents (LEAP-CP): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 8 (6) e017204, e021186. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021186
2017
Journal Article
Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Cerebral Palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2017). Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Cerebral Palsy. Pediatrics, 140 (6) e20170731, 1-11. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-0731
2017
Journal Article
Parent-reported indicators for detecting feeding and swallowing difficulties and undernutrition in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W., Arvedson, Joan, Boyd, Roslyn N and Bell, Kristie L (2017). Parent-reported indicators for detecting feeding and swallowing difficulties and undernutrition in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 59 (11), 1181-1187. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13498
2017
Journal Article
Hazardous child labor in Nepal: The case of brick kilns
Lamar, Stephen, O'Leary, Patrick, Chui, Cheryl, Benfer, Katherine, Zug, Sebastian and Jordan, Lucy P. (2017). Hazardous child labor in Nepal: The case of brick kilns. Child Abuse and Neglect, 72, 312-325. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.08.011
2017
Journal Article
PREDICT-CP: study protocol of implementation of comprehensive surveillance to predict outcomes for school-aged children with cerebral palsy
Boyd, Roslyn N., Davies, Peter S. W., Ziviani, Jenny, Trost, Stewart, Barber, Lee, Ware, Robert, Rose, Stephen, Whittingham, Koa, Sakzewski, Leanne, Bell, Kristie, Carty, Christopher, Obst, Steven, Benfer, Katherine, Reedman, Sarah, Edwards, Priya, Kentish, Megan, Copeland, Lisa, Weir, Kelly, Davenport, Camilla, Brooks, Denise, Coulthard, Alan, Pelekanos, Rebecca, Guzzetta, Andrea, Fiori, Simona, Wynter, Meredith, Finn, Christine, Burgess, Andrea, Morris, Kym, Walsh, John ... Scuffham, Paul A. (2017). PREDICT-CP: study protocol of implementation of comprehensive surveillance to predict outcomes for school-aged children with cerebral palsy. BMJ Open, 7 (7) e014950, e014950. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014950
2017
Journal Article
The eating and drinking ability classification system in a population-based sample of preschool children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2017). The eating and drinking ability classification system in a population-based sample of preschool children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 59 (6), 647-654. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13403
2017
Journal Article
Body composition, diet, and physical activity: a longitudinal cohort study in preschoolers with cerebral palsy
Oftedal, Stina, Davies, Peter S. W., Boyd, Roslyn N., Stevenson, Richard D., Ware, Robert S., Keawutan, Piyapa, Benfer, Katherine A. and Bell, Kristie L. (2017). Body composition, diet, and physical activity: a longitudinal cohort study in preschoolers with cerebral palsy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 105 (2), 369-378. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.137810
2017
Conference Publication
Risk factors for identifying feeding difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Davies, P. S. W., Boyd, R. N., Arvedson, J. C. and Bell, K. L. (2017). Risk factors for identifying feeding difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy. 29th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 17-20 May 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13455
2017
Conference Publication
Eating and drinking ability classification system in a population-based sample of preschool children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2017). Eating and drinking ability classification system in a population-based sample of preschool children with cerebral palsy. 29th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 17-20 May 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13456
2016
Journal Article
Longitudinal growth, diet, and physical activity in young children with cerebral palsy
Oftedal, Stina, Davies, Peter S. W., Boyd, Roslyn N., Stevenson, Richard D., Ware, Robert S., Keawutan, Piyapa, Benfer, Katherine A. and Bell, Kristie L. (2016). Longitudinal growth, diet, and physical activity in young children with cerebral palsy. Pediatrics, 138 (4) e20161321, e20161321-e20161321. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-1321
2016
Journal Article
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy: comparisons between a high- and low-resource country
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Nahar, Baitun, Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2016). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy: comparisons between a high- and low-resource country. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39 (23), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1229363
2016
Journal Article
Longitudinal study of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2016). Longitudinal study of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 97 (4), 552-560. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.11.016
2016
Conference Publication
Gross motor function in preschool children with cerebral palsy: comparison between a high- and low-resource country. Is a GMFCS 3 a 3?
Jordan, R., Benfer, K., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2016). Gross motor function in preschool children with cerebral palsy: comparison between a high- and low-resource country. Is a GMFCS 3 a 3?. 5th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 30 March – 2 April 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13069
2016
Conference Publication
Stability of the gross motor function classification system: comparison between high and low-resource countries
Benfer, K., Jordan, R., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2016). Stability of the gross motor function classification system: comparison between high and low-resource countries. 8th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 30 March – 2 April 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13069
2015
Journal Article
Food and fluid texture consumption in a population-based cohort of preschool children with cerebral palsy: Relationship to dietary intake
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2015). Food and fluid texture consumption in a population-based cohort of preschool children with cerebral palsy: Relationship to dietary intake. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 57 (11), 1056-1063. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12796
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Kath Benfer is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Indigenous Culturally adapted BabyMoves App to improve early surveillance and prediction of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome of high-risk NICU graduates in the Northern Territory
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
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Doctor Philosophy
Early detection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants at high chance of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
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Doctor Philosophy
Cultural Adaptation of the LEAP-CP Program for Indigenous Infants at High Risk of Adverse Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roslyn Boyd
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Caregiver-infant emotional availability outcomes and intervention delivery fidelity in a community-based caregiver-implemented program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low resource context
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Emma Crawford, Associate Professor Leanne Sakzewski
Media
Enquiries
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