Exploring satisfaction among women having a First Nations baby at one of three maternity hospitals offering culturally specific continuity of midwife care in Victoria, Australia: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Continuity of midwife care is recommended to redress the inequitable perinatal outcomes experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) mothers and babies, however more evidence is needed about First Nations women's views and experiences of their care.

Aims: This study aimed to explore levels of satisfaction among women having a First Nations baby, who received maternity care at one of three maternity services, where new culturally specific midwife continuity models had been recently implemented.

Methods: Women having a First Nations baby who were booked for care at one of three study sites in Naarm (Melbourne), Victoria, were invited to complete one questionnaire during pregnancy and then a follow up questionnaire, 3 months after the birth.

Results: Follow up questionnaires were completed by 213 women, of whom 186 had received continuity of midwife care. Most women rated their pregnancy (80 %) and labour and birth care (81 %) highly ('6 or '7' on a scale of 1-7). Women felt informed, that they had an active say in decisions, that their concerns were taken seriously, and that the midwives were kind, understanding and there when needed. Ratings of inpatient postnatal care were lower (62 %), than care at home (87 %).

Conclusions: Women having a First Nations baby at one of three maternity services, where culturally specific, continuity of midwife care models were implemented reported high levels of satisfaction with care. It is recommended that these programs are upscaled, implemented and sustained.

Keywords: Aboriginal; Indigenous; Maternity care; Pregnancy; Satisfaction; Torres Strait Islander.