Mary G Jenkins1, Jane B Ford2, Angela L Todd3, Rowena Forsyth4, Jonathan M Morris5, Christine L Roberts6. 1. Clinical and Population Perinatal Health Research, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: mary.jenkins@sydney.edu.au. 2. Clinical and Population Perinatal Health Research, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: jane.ford@sydney.edu.au. 3. Clinical and Population Perinatal Health Research, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: angela.todd@sydney.edu.au. 4. Clinical and Population Perinatal Health Research, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: rowena.forsyth@sydney.edu.au. 5. Clinical and Population Perinatal Health Research, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia; Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: jonathan.morris@sydney.edu.au. 6. Clinical and Population Perinatal Health Research, The Kolling Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: christine.roberts@sydney.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: to gain an understanding of how women conceptualise continuity of maternity care. DESIGN: a qualitative study involving in-depth semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. SETTING: a range of urban and rural public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 53 women aged 18-44 years (median age 27 years) receiving maternity care in 2011-2012. FINDINGS: responses from women suggested five concepts of continuity: continuity of staff, continuity of relationship, continuity of information, continuity across pregnancies and continuity across locations. These concepts of continuity differed by parity and location. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: continuity of maternity care has a variety of meanings to women. If health care providers are to commit to providing woman-centred maternity care it is important to recognise the diversity of women's experiences, and ensure that systems of care are flexible and appropriate to women's circumstances and needs.
OBJECTIVE: to gain an understanding of how women conceptualise continuity of maternity care. DESIGN: a qualitative study involving in-depth semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. SETTING: a range of urban and rural public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: 53 women aged 18-44 years (median age 27 years) receiving maternity care in 2011-2012. FINDINGS: responses from women suggested five concepts of continuity: continuity of staff, continuity of relationship, continuity of information, continuity across pregnancies and continuity across locations. These concepts of continuity differed by parity and location. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: continuity of maternity care has a variety of meanings to women. If health care providers are to commit to providing woman-centred maternity care it is important to recognise the diversity of women's experiences, and ensure that systems of care are flexible and appropriate to women's circumstances and needs.
Authors: J Slomian; P Emonts; L Vigneron; A Acconcia; F Glowacz; J Y Reginster; M Oumourgh; O Bruyère Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2017-07-03 Impact factor: 3.007