. 2019 Oct 28;19(1):389.

doi: 10.1186/s12884-019-2562-6.

Diabetes care in remote Australia: the antenatal, postpartum and inter-pregnancy period

R Kirkham¹, N Trap-Jensen², J A Boyle^{2

3}, F Barzi², E L M Barr^{2

4}, C Whitbread^{2

5}, P Van Dokkum^{6

7}, M Kirkwood², C Connors⁸, E Moore⁹, P Zimmet¹⁰, S Corpus¹¹, A J Hanley¹², K O'Dea¹³, J Oats¹⁴, H D McIntyre¹⁵, A Brown¹⁶, J E Shaw⁴, L Maple-Brown^{2

5}; NT Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership

Affiliations

¹ Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia. renae.kirkham@menzies.edu.au.
² Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.
³ Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁴ Population Health Research, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia.
⁶ Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Australia.
⁷ Population Health Research, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Alice Springs, Australia.
⁸ Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, Australia.
⁹ Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
¹¹ Danila Dilba Health Service, Darwin, Australia.
¹² Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
¹³ School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
¹⁴ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
¹⁵ Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
¹⁶ South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia.

PMID: 31660892
PMCID: PMC6819653
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2562-6

Diabetes care in remote Australia: the antenatal, postpartum and inter-pregnancy period

R Kirkham et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019.

. 2019 Oct 28;19(1):389.

doi: 10.1186/s12884-019-2562-6.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia. renae.kirkham@menzies.edu.au.
² Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.
³ Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁴ Population Health Research, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia.
⁶ Alice Springs Hospital, Alice Springs, Australia.
⁷ Population Health Research, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Alice Springs, Australia.
⁸ Northern Territory Department of Health, Darwin, Australia.
⁹ Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
¹¹ Danila Dilba Health Service, Darwin, Australia.
¹² Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
¹³ School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
¹⁴ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
¹⁵ Mater Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
¹⁶ South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia.

PMID: 31660892
PMCID: PMC6819653
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2562-6

Abstract

Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience high rates of diabetes in pregnancy (DIP), contributing to health risks for mother and infant, and the intergenerational cycle of diabetes. By enhancing diabetes management during pregnancy, postpartum and the interval between pregnancies, the DIP Partnership aims to improve health outcomes and reduce risks early in the life-course. We describe a mixed methods formative study of health professional's perspectives of antenatal and post-partum diabetes screening and management, including enablers and barriers to care.

Methods: Health professionals involved in providing diabetes care in pregnancy, from a range of health services across the Northern Territory, completed the survey (n = 82) and/or took part in interviews and/or focus groups (n = 62).

Results: Qualitative findings highlighted factors influencing the delivery of care as reported by health professionals, including: whose responsibility it is, access to care, the baby is the focus and pre-conception care. The main challenges were related to: disjointed systems and confusion around whose role it is to provide follow-up care beyond six weeks post-partum. Quantitative findings indicated that the majority of health professionals reported confidence in their own skills to manage women in the antenatal period (62%, 40/79) and slightly lower rates of confidence in the postpartum interval (57%, 33/58).

Conclusion: These findings regarding whose role it is to provide postpartum care, along with opportunities to improve communication pathways and follow up care have informed the design of a complex health intervention to improve health systems and the provision of DIP related care.

Keywords: Antenatal; Diabetes in pregnancy; Healthcare services; Indigenous; Postpartum.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Health professionals self-reported use of screening tests

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Diabetes care in remote Australia: the antenatal, postpartum and inter-pregnancy period

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Diabetes care in remote Australia: the antenatal, postpartum and inter-pregnancy period

Authors

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Conflict of interest statement

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