‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia
Abstract Objectives: To evaluate implementation and outcomes of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program (AFBP), which provides culturally competent antenatal, intrapartum and early postnatal care for Aboriginal families across South Australia (SA). Methods: Analysis of births to Aboriginal women in S...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12599 |
| _version_ | 1827848886034628608 |
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| author | Philippa Middleton Tanya Bubner Karen Glover Alice Rumbold Donna Weetra Wendy Scheil Stephanie Brown |
| author_facet | Philippa Middleton Tanya Bubner Karen Glover Alice Rumbold Donna Weetra Wendy Scheil Stephanie Brown |
| author_sort | Philippa Middleton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objectives: To evaluate implementation and outcomes of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program (AFBP), which provides culturally competent antenatal, intrapartum and early postnatal care for Aboriginal families across South Australia (SA). Methods: Analysis of births to Aboriginal women in SA 2010–2012; interviews with health professionals and AFBP clients. Results: Around a third of all Aboriginal women giving birth in SA 2010–2012 (n=486) attended AFBP services. AFBP women were more likely to be more socially disadvantaged, have poorer pregnancy health and to have inadequate numbers of antenatal visits than Aboriginal women attending other services. Even with greater social disadvantage and higher clinical complexity, pregnancy outcomes were similar for AFBP and other Aboriginal women. Interviews with 107 health professionals (including 20 Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care (AMIC) workers) indicated differing levels of commitment to the model, with some lack of clarity about AMIC workers and midwives roles. Interviews with 20 AFBP clients showed they highly valued care from another Aboriginal woman. Conclusions: Despite challenges, the AFBP reaches out to women with the greatest need, providing culturally appropriate, effective care through partnerships. Implications for Public Health: Programs like the AFBP need to be expanded and supported to improve maternal and child health outcomes for Aboriginal families. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:54:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-717c00a91b314e25bda65e6ca38f3117 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:54:32Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-717c00a91b314e25bda65e6ca38f31172023-09-02T12:16:57ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052017-02-01411212610.1111/1753-6405.12599‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South AustraliaPhilippa Middleton0Tanya Bubner1Karen Glover2Alice Rumbold3Donna Weetra4Wendy Scheil5Stephanie Brown6Healthy Mothers, Babies and Children, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute South AustraliaInnovative Community Action Networks (ICAN), Centacare Catholic Family Services South AustraliaAboriginal Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute South AustraliaRobinson Research Institute The University of Adelaide South AustraliaHealthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute VictoriaDepartment for Health, Government of South AustraliaHealthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute VictoriaAbstract Objectives: To evaluate implementation and outcomes of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program (AFBP), which provides culturally competent antenatal, intrapartum and early postnatal care for Aboriginal families across South Australia (SA). Methods: Analysis of births to Aboriginal women in SA 2010–2012; interviews with health professionals and AFBP clients. Results: Around a third of all Aboriginal women giving birth in SA 2010–2012 (n=486) attended AFBP services. AFBP women were more likely to be more socially disadvantaged, have poorer pregnancy health and to have inadequate numbers of antenatal visits than Aboriginal women attending other services. Even with greater social disadvantage and higher clinical complexity, pregnancy outcomes were similar for AFBP and other Aboriginal women. Interviews with 107 health professionals (including 20 Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care (AMIC) workers) indicated differing levels of commitment to the model, with some lack of clarity about AMIC workers and midwives roles. Interviews with 20 AFBP clients showed they highly valued care from another Aboriginal woman. Conclusions: Despite challenges, the AFBP reaches out to women with the greatest need, providing culturally appropriate, effective care through partnerships. Implications for Public Health: Programs like the AFBP need to be expanded and supported to improve maternal and child health outcomes for Aboriginal families.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12599Aboriginal healthmaternal and child healthmaternity care modelsprogram evaluation |
| spellingShingle | Philippa Middleton Tanya Bubner Karen Glover Alice Rumbold Donna Weetra Wendy Scheil Stephanie Brown ‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Aboriginal health maternal and child health maternity care models program evaluation |
| title | ‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia |
| title_full | ‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia |
| title_fullStr | ‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia |
| title_short | ‘Partnerships are crucial’: an evaluation of the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program in South Australia |
| title_sort | partnerships are crucial an evaluation of the aboriginal family birthing program in south australia |
| topic | Aboriginal health maternal and child health maternity care models program evaluation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12599 |
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