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What do women feel about community-based antenatal care?
C S Homer1, G K Davis, P M Brodie
1Midwifery Practice and Research Centre, Centre for Family Health and Midwifery, University of Technology, Sydney. homerc@sesahs.nsw.gov.au
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
|February 24, 2001
Summary
The St George Outreach Maternity Project (STOMP) improved antenatal care by reducing wait times and increasing access. This community-based model enhances women's perception of care quality.
Area of Science:
- Maternal Health
- Public Health Services
- Healthcare Delivery Models
Background:
- Antenatal care in Australia faces challenges including fragmented care, long waits, and clinic accessibility issues.
- A new community-based model, the St George Outreach Maternity Project (STOMP), was developed to address these concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate women's perceptions of the STOMP model of continuity of antenatal care.
- To assess the effectiveness of a community-based approach compared to standard care.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 1,089 women was conducted.
- The experimental group received care from community-based teams of midwives and an obstetrician.
- Data were collected via questionnaire at 36 weeks' gestation with a 75% response rate.
Main Results:
- Women in the STOMP group experienced significantly shorter waiting times for antenatal visits.
- Easier access to care and higher perceived quality of antenatal care were reported by the STOMP group.
- STOMP participants saw more midwives and fewer doctors compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- The STOMP model demonstrates that antenatal care can be successfully delivered in community settings.
- This community-based model has significant implications for planning Australian public health antenatal services.
- Implementing such models can enhance the overall experience and outcomes for women receiving antenatal care.