Evaluation of an integrated community antenatal clinic

The obstetric outcome and experience of care of 96 pregnant women attending an integrated community antenatal clinic staffed by general practitioners, a community midwife and an obstetric accredited senior registrar were compared with those of 100 women receiving traditional shared antenatal care. The views of the women and their practitioners were sought; obstetric data were obtained from obstetric notes, hospital records and cooperation cards.Fewer women attending the community clinic suffered from hypertension than women receiving shared care. The women attending the clinic reported that it had a friendly, relaxed and personal atmosphere. They also reported less inconvenience and a shorter waiting time for the obstetrician than women receiving shared care. They received greater continuity of care from the obstetrician but less from the general practitioners and community midwives than the control women. There was greater satisfaction with communication with staff among women attending the clinic, with the exception of the midwife whose role was not sufficiently well delineated. Practitioners in the integrated scheme appreciated the close working arrangements but experienced an increase in administrative tasks.