Qualifications
PhD (Public Health / Medical Anthropology) University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Social Science (Community Development) Honours Class 1 University of South Australia, RM RN

Short biography/introduction: 
Dr Belton is a medical anthropologist with a research interest in women’s health. She is a midwife with clinical experience in community health, women’s health, family planning, refugee health and alternative birth systems. She works in SE Asia, China and remote Australia and has published on preventing maternal mortality and morbidity related to unsafe abortion funded by UNFPA and Alola Foundation in East Timor and maternal health outcomes in China. Her research has improved clinical post-abortion care for Burmese women on the Thai-Burma border, as well as contributed to clinical and policy outcomes. Her current research is on the new domestic violence law in East Timor. She also works with Indigenous women and their families to document their experiences of remote maternity care in the Northern Territory.

Publications:

Book chapters
Belton, S. (2010). Violence, poverty and 'weakness' the interpersonal and institutional reasons why Burmese women end a pregnancy. Abortion in Asia:  Local Dilemmas, Global Politics. A. Whittaker, Berghahn Books.

Belton, S. (2007). Burmese women and unwanted pregnancy: I thought my blood was stuck inside me. Becoming a Mother: A cross cultural perspective on reproduction and childbearing. P. Liamputtong. Melbourne, Nova.
Published journal articles

Refereed articles
1.    Gao Yu, Barclay, L., Kildea, S., Hao, M., & Belton, S. (2010). Barriers to increasing hospital birth rates in rural Shanxi province, China. Reproductive Health Matters, Accepted.
2.    Belton, S., M. Campbell, et al. (2010). "Evaluating the Longer Term Effectiveness of the Maternity Emergency Care Course." Women and Birth 10(1): on line.
3.    Ireland, S., Wulili Narjic, C., Belton, S., & Kildea, S. (2010). Niyith Nniyith Watmam (the quiet story): Exploring the experiences of Aboriginal women who give birth in their remote community. Midwifery,Oct 20,[Epub].
4.    Chenall, S., Belton. (2010). Negotiating Human Research Ethics: Case notes from Anthropologists in the field. Anthropology Today, Submitted.
5.    Belton, S., & Whittaker, A. (2009). Kódigu penál foun no nesesidade ba asesu legál ba terminasaun gravidés iha Timor-Leste. Understanding Timor Leste, Dili.
6.    Belton, S., Whittaker, A., Fonseca, Z., Wells-Brown, T., & Pais, P. (2009). Attitudes towards the legal context of unsafe abortion in Timor-Leste. Reproductive Health Matters, 17(34), 55-65.
7.    Wayte, K., A. B. Zwi, Belton,S et al. (2008). "Conflict and development: Challenges in responding to sexual and reproductive health needs in Timor-Leste." Reproductive Health Matters 16(31): 83-92.
8.    Belton, S. and A. Whittaker (2007). "Kathy Pan, Sticks and Pummelling: fertility regulation and unsafe abortion by Burmese women." Social Science and Medicine 65(July): 1512-1523.
9.    Harris, A., S. Belton, et al. (2007). "Midwives in China: 'Jie Sheng Po to Zhu Chan Shi'." Midwifery(7): doi:10.1016/j.midw.2007.01.015. [Citation 1]
10.    Harris, A., Yu Gao, Barclay, L, Belton, S et al. (2007). "Consequences of birth policies and practices in post-reform China." Reproductive Health Matters (Mandarin and English Versions)  15(30): 114-124.
11.    Belton, S. (2007). "Borders of Fertility: Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in Burmese Women Migrating to Thailand." Health Care for Women International 28(4): 419-433.
12.    Weymouth, S., C. Davey, et al. (2007). "What are the effects of distance management on the retention of remote area nurses in Australia?" Australian Journal of Rural Health 7(652): Online.
13.    Belton, S. and C. Maung (2004). "Fertility and abortion: Burmese women's health on the Thai-Burma border." Forced Migration Review - Reproductive Health for Displaced People Investing in the Future http://www.fmreview.org/FMRpdfs/FMR19/FMR1917.pdf: 36-37.

Published research reports
1.    Belton, S., A. Whittaker, L. Barclay. (2009). Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion in East Timor Dili, UNFPA and Alola Foundation.
2.    Belton, S. (2008) J Block Women of Art Project Report: Evaluating Community Education in a Prison Setting, Dawn House & Ruby Gaea, Darwin.
3.    Weymouth, S., C. Davey, et al. (2006). The effect of distance management on the retention of remote area nurses in Australia. Alice Springs, Centre for Remote Health and Charles Darwin University.
4.    Maung, C. and S. Belton (2005). Working Our Way Back Home: fertility and pregnancy loss on the border of Thailand. Mae Sot, Mae Tao Clinic (Report): 76.

Current projects:

2010 -2011
Strengthening the capacity of police, health professionals and lawyers to understand and apply the new Penal Code and Domestic Violence Law using a human rights framework in East Timor. AusAID Human Rights Grant http://www.cdu.edu.au/itl/timorleste.html

2011 -2012
Young, M., Doran, B., Jenkins, J., Belton, S. Gambling-related Harm in Northern Australia: A GIS-based Spatiotemporal Analysis of Venue Catchments. Australian Research Council Linkages Grant (LP 0990584).

Partnerships and collaborations:   Timor Leste Research Cabinet

Areas of expertise and research interests:   
Dr Suzanne Belton is a midwife with clinical experience in community health, women’s health, family planning, refugee health and alternative birth systems. She has experience working in SE Asia and China. Her research interests include the sociology and anthropology of health, the social and cultural context of reproductive health, gender and violence against women. Her research interests include:
     Cross-cultural studies
     Refugee health
     Traditional birth attendants and informal health workers
     Community and institutional ethnography
     Medical anthropology and public health
     Midwifery and models of maternal health care
     Gender and human rights.

Students:  
Anna Szava Doctorate Enrolled 2010 – Primary Supervisor
‘Why Not Family Food? Local views on the factors affecting child malnutrition in Southwest Ethiopia’

Sarah Ireland Doctorate Enrolled 2010 – Primary Supervisor
‘Reproducing History: Aboriginal women in a remote community in the Northern Territory’

Ana Isabelle Soares Doctorate Enrolled 2009 – Joint Supervision
‘Development and Implementation of Timor-Leste Health Policy   
Framework 2002: A Governance Analysis’

Kara Burns Honours Enrolled 2010 – Joint Supervision
‘Examining compliance with policy of medical photography in a hospital setting’

Completed
Dr Gao Yu Doctorate Enrolled 2005 Completed 2008 – Joint Supervision
‘A study of accessibility, quality of services and other factors that contribute to maternal death in Shanxi Province, China’

Sarah Ireland Honors Thesis Enrolled 2008 Completed 2008 – Joint Supervision
‘Niyith Niyith Watmam the quiet story: exploring the experience of Aboriginal women who give birth in a remote community in the Northern Territory’