Sarah J. Melov , James Elhindi , Helena Qian , Olivia Byrnes , N. Wah Cheung , P. Michelle de Vroome , Geraldine Gilroy , Tanya Nippita , Michelle Simmons , Gayatri Talla , Lisa White , Dipti Zachariah , Allison Cummins , Dharmintra Pasupathy
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Migrant populations are recognised to be at increased risk of adverse health outcomes including perinatal outcomes. Structural barriers to maternity care and racism are recognised globally as an urgent issue for migrants. Midwife continuity of care (MCoC) has well known improved perinatal benefits.
Aim
To investigate if duration since migration was associated with reduced access to MCoC.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study from June 2020–November 2023 at six Australian hospitals. MCoC was investigated by hospital and self-identified ethnic group for women who migrated < 5 years, ≥ 5 years compared to the Australian born population. Regression models adjusted for significant factors including use of interpreter and co-morbidities.
Findings
There were 48,240 participants for analysis. Most in the cohort were Australian born (54.7 %, n = 26,365), migrants of < 5 years comprised 13.2 % (n = 6388) and those who migrated ≥ 5 years 32.1 % (n = 15,487). At all study hospitals, new migrants had the least access to MCoC. Compared to Australian born women, new migrants were 70 % less likely to receive MCoC (aOR 0.30; 95 %CI 0.27–0.34) and migrants of ≥ 5 years were 49 % less likely (aOR 0.51; 95 %CI 0.48–0.56). We identified a difference to access to MCoC between ethnic groups.
Discussion
Health literacy needs of women who are migrants should be addressed to improve equity of access to a model of care that is evidenced based to improve perinatal outcomes.
Conclusion
It is incumbent on health services to measure equity of access and adjust services to ensure equity of access for all populations.
期刊介绍:
Women and Birth is the official journal of the Australian College of Midwives (ACM). It is a midwifery journal that publishes on all matters that affect women and birth, from pre-conceptual counselling, through pregnancy, birth, and the first six weeks postnatal. All papers accepted will draw from and contribute to the relevant contemporary research, policy and/or theoretical literature. We seek research papers, quality assurances papers (with ethical approval) discussion papers, clinical practice papers, case studies and original literature reviews.
Our women-centred focus is inclusive of the family, fetus and newborn, both well and sick, and covers both healthy and complex pregnancies and births. The journal seeks papers that take a woman-centred focus on maternity services, epidemiology, primary health care, reproductive psycho/physiology, midwifery practice, theory, research, education, management and leadership. We also seek relevant papers on maternal mental health and neonatal well-being, natural and complementary therapies, local, national and international policy, management, politics, economics and societal and cultural issues as they affect childbearing women and their families. Topics may include, where appropriate, neonatal care, child and family health, women’s health, related to pregnancy, birth and the postpartum, including lactation. Interprofessional papers relevant to midwifery are welcome. Articles are double blind peer-reviewed, primarily by experts in the field of the submitted work.