Lack, Bernadette M; Smith, Rachel M; Arundell, Mick; Homer, Caroline S E

Author(s)

Lack, Bernadette M

Smith, Rachel M

Arundell, Mick

Homer, Caroline S E

Publication Date

2016-10-01

Abstract

In Australia, Aboriginal women and babies experience higher maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality rates than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Whilst midwifery led continuity of care has been shown to be safe for women and their babies, with benefits including reducing the preterm birth rate, access to this model of care in remote areas remains limited. A Midwifery Group Practice was established in 2009 in a remote city of the Northern Territory, Australia, with the aim of improving outcomes and access to midwifery continuity of care. The aim of this paper is to describe the maternal and newborn outcomes for women accessing midwifery continuity of care in a remote context in Australia. A retrospective descriptive design using data from two existing electronic databases was undertaken and analysed descriptively. In total, 763 women (40% of whom were Aboriginal) gave birth to 769 babies over a four year period. There were no maternal deaths and the rate of perinatal mortality was lower than that across the Northern Territory. Lower rates of preterm birth (6%) and low birth weight babies (5%) were found in comparison to population based data. Continuity of Midwifery Care can be effectively provided to remote dwelling Aboriginal women and appears to improve outcomes for women and their infants.

Citation

Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives 2016-10; 29(5): 465-470

Pubmed ID

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27050200/?otool=iaurydwlib

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5318

Subject

Aboriginal

Clinical outcomes

Continuity of care

Midwifery

Pregnancy

MESH subject

Adult

Australia

Delivery, Obstetric

Female

Humans

Infant

Infant, Low Birth Weight

Infant, Newborn

Medically Underserved Area

Northern Territory

Obstetric Labor Complications

Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Complications

Pregnancy Outcome

Premature Birth

Retrospective Studies

Group Practice

Maternal Health Services

Midwifery

Oceanic Ancestry Group

Title

Narrowing the Gap? Describing women's outcomes in Midwifery Group Practice in remote Australia.

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Lack, Bernadette M Smith, Rachel M Arundell, Mick Homer, Caroline S E
Publication Date	2016-10-01
Abstract	In Australia, Aboriginal women and babies experience higher maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality rates than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Whilst midwifery led continuity of care has been shown to be safe for women and their babies, with benefits including reducing the preterm birth rate, access to this model of care in remote areas remains limited. A Midwifery Group Practice was established in 2009 in a remote city of the Northern Territory, Australia, with the aim of improving outcomes and access to midwifery continuity of care. The aim of this paper is to describe the maternal and newborn outcomes for women accessing midwifery continuity of care in a remote context in Australia. A retrospective descriptive design using data from two existing electronic databases was undertaken and analysed descriptively. In total, 763 women (40% of whom were Aboriginal) gave birth to 769 babies over a four year period. There were no maternal deaths and the rate of perinatal mortality was lower than that across the Northern Territory. Lower rates of preterm birth (6%) and low birth weight babies (5%) were found in comparison to population based data. Continuity of Midwifery Care can be effectively provided to remote dwelling Aboriginal women and appears to improve outcomes for women and their infants.
Citation	Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives 2016-10; 29(5): 465-470
Pubmed ID	https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27050200/?otool=iaurydwlib
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/10137/5318
Subject	Aboriginal Clinical outcomes Continuity of care Midwifery Pregnancy
MESH subject	Adult Australia Delivery, Obstetric Female Humans Infant Infant, Low Birth Weight Infant, Newborn Medically Underserved Area Northern Territory Obstetric Labor Complications Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care) Pregnancy Pregnancy Complications Pregnancy Outcome Premature Birth Retrospective Studies Group Practice Maternal Health Services Midwifery Oceanic Ancestry Group
Title	Narrowing the Gap? Describing women's outcomes in Midwifery Group Practice in remote Australia.
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

Narrowing the Gap? Describing women's outcomes in Midwifery Group Practice in remote Australia.

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