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Planned early discharge from New Zealand maternity hospitals
S D Mitchell1, A M Counsell, D C Geddis
1Research and Education Unit, Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, Dunedin.
Aims:
The purpose of the Plunket National Child Health Study was to establish a database on health indicators of New Zealand children and families. This paper examines the issue of early discharge in New Zealand maternity hospitals.
Methods:
As part of the study, 4286 parents were interviewed when the child was around six weeks post partum regarding their planned choice for length of post natal hospital stay and their actual length of stay.
Results:
Most New Zealand mothers choose to stay in hospital for 4-7 days following childbirth. Those mothers choosing early discharge (within 48 hours of delivery), tended to be multiparous, nonEuropean, less educated and of lower socioeconomic status.
Conclusions:
The characteristics of those choosing early discharge demonstrate the vulnerability of this group and also have implications for the provision of health care services which are discussed.
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