Translating evidence into practice: Implementing culturally safe continuity of midwifery care for First Nations women in three maternity services in Victoria, Australia ...

• Main Authors: McLachlan, Helen, Newton, Michelle, McLardie-Hore, Fiona, McCalman, Pamela, Jackomos, Marika, Bundle, Gina, Kildea, Sue, Chamberlain, Catherine, Browne, Jennifer, Ryan, Jenny, Freemantle, Jane, Shafiei, Touran, Jacobs, Susan E, Oats, Jeremy, Blow, Ngaree, Ferguson, Karyn, Gold, Lisa, Watkins, Jacqueline, Dell, Maree, Read, Kim, Hyde, Rebecca, Matthews, Robyn, Forster, Della
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: La Trobe 2022
• Subjects: Nursing not elsewhere classified; Public health not elsewhere classified; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing not elsewhere classified; Midwifery not elsewhere classified; First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.26181/19971323; https://opal.latrobe.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Translating_evidence_into_practice_Implementing_culturally_safe_continuity_of_midwifery_care_for_First_Nations_women_in_three_maternity_services_in_Victoria_Australia/19971323

Background: Strategies to improve outcomes for Australian First Nations mothers and babies are urgently needed. Caseload midwifery, where women have midwife-led continuity throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the early postnatal period, is associated with substantially better perinatal health outcomes, but few First Nations women receive it. We assessed the capacity of four maternity services in Victoria, Australia, to implement, embed, and sustain a culturally responsive caseload midwifery service. Methods: A prospective, non-randomised research translational study design was used. Site specific culturally responsive caseload models were developed by site working groups in partnership with their First Nations health units and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The primary outcome was to increase the proportion of women having a First Nations baby proactively offered and receiving caseload midwifery as measured before and after programme implementation. The study was ...