Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/1925
Title: Where do low risk women live relative to maternity services across Victoria? Expanding access to public homebirth models across Victoria.
Author: Sharlov, R.
Taniar, D.
Phan, T.
Beare, R.
Srikanth, V.
Ma, H.
Farrell, T.
White, C.
Wallace, E.
Davies-Tuck, M.
Issue Date: 2022
Publication Title: Women and Birth
Volume: 35
Issue: 1
Start Page: e91
End Page: e97
Abstract: Problem Currently <1% of Australian women give birth at home. Background In Australia there are very few options for women to access public funded homebirth. Aim We aimed to use geo-mapping to identify the number of women eligible for homebirth in Victoria, based on the criteria of uncomplicated pregnancies and residing within 15–25 kms of suitable maternity services, to plan future maternity care options. Methods Retrospective study of births between 2015 and 2017 in Victoria, Australia. All women who were identified as having a low risk pregnancy at the beginning of pregnancy were included. The number of women within 15 and 25 km of a suitable Victorian public maternity hospital and catchment boundaries around each hospital were determined. Findings Between 2015 and 2017, 126,830 low risk women gave birth in Victoria, of whom half live within 25 km of seven Victorian hospitals. Currently, 2% of suitable women who live close to the current public homebirth models accessed them. Discussion We present a method to inform the expansion of maternity service options using Victoria as an example. On the basis of the maximum number of low risk women living close by, we have also identified the Victorian maternity services that would be most suitable for creation of public homebirth or low risk continuity of midwifery models. Conclusion This approach could can be used to plan other maternity care services.
Description: Includes data from BHS and WHCG
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11054/1925
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2021.01.004
Internal ID Number: 01899
Health Subject: GEOMAPPING
HOMEBIRTH
MATERNITY CARE
MODELS OF CARE
Type: Journal Article
Article
Appears in Collections:Research Output

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.