‘Every woman deserves that’: A qualitative exploration of the impact of Australia’s national maternity strategy

Background

Since 2019, maternity care in Australia has been guided by the national maternity policy, Woman-centred care: Strategic directions for Australian maternity services (the Strategy). The Strategy has four core values (safety, respect, choice and access), which underpin 12 principles of woman-centred care.

Aim

To describe women’s experiences of receiving maternity care in Australia and explore how their care aligned with the values and principles of the Strategy.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Fifty women from across Australia, including women from each of the priority populations within the Strategy, were interviewed. Data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Women described how their care aligned and misaligned with the Strategy. Workforce shortages impacted their sense of safety, and they frequently had to self-advocate for individualised care that made them feel safe. Women wanted a holistic approach to care provision where they were listened to, heard, and their choices were respected by maternity care providers, but they felt the need to arm themselves with information to achieve this. They also expressed a desire for better care in the postnatal period to 12 months that included appropriate and affordable mental health support.

Conclusion

Receiving care that aligns with the values and principles of the Strategy is on an ad hoc basis, and maternity care provision is not consistent across Australia. A greater commitment to the implementation and adoption of the Strategy is required at a national and service level if its intent is to be fully realised.