Which mothers receive a post partum home visit in Queensland, Australia? A cross-sectional retrospective study
Wendy Brodribb A D and Yvette Miller B CA Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Level 8, Health Sciences Building, RBWH, Herston, Qld 4029, Australia.
B School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia. Email: yvette.miller@qut.edu.au
C School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: w.brodribb@uq.edu.au
Australian Health Review 39(3) 337-343 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH14055
Submitted: 13 March 2014 Accepted: 3 November 2014 Published: 22 December 2014
Abstract
Objective Although home visiting in the early post partum period appears to have increased, there are limited data defining which women receive a visit and none that include Queensland. We aimed to investigate patterns of post partum home visiting in the public and private sectors in Queensland.
Methods Data were collected via a retrospective cross-sectional survey of women birthing in Queensland between 1 February and 31 May 2010 at 4 months post partum (n = 6948). Logistic regression was used to assess associations between receiving a home visit and sociodemographic, clinical and hospital variables. Analyses were stratified by public and private birthing sector because of significant differences between sectors.
Results Public sector women were more likely to receive a visit from a nurse or midwife (from the hospital or child health sector) within 10 days of hospital discharge (67.2%) than private sector women (7.2%). Length of hospital stay was associated with home visiting in both sectors. Some vulnerable subpopulations in both sectors were more likely to be visited, whereas others were not.
Conclusions Home visiting in Queensland varies markedly between the public and private sector and is less common in some vulnerable populations. Further consideration to improving the equity of community post partum care in Queensland is needed.
What is known about the topic? A recent paper found that most women from the public sector in Victoria and South Australia receive an early post partum home visit from a midwife or nurse. Queensland only recently implemented a program to increase post partum home visiting but who receives visits is still unknown.
What does this paper add? No previous study has investigated which women receive early post partum home visits in Queensland, nor home visiting rates within the private sector. This paper also examines whether specific subpopulations of vulnerable post partum women are receiving home visits so that patterns of inequity or unmet needs can be identified.
What are the implications for practitioners? Home visiting by nurses or midwives in the post partum period in Queensland was less common than in other Australian states, and varies markedly between the public and private sector. These differences highlight inequities in community post partum care that need to be addressed if women are to receive the most cost-effective and clinically appropriate care and support in the post partum period.
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