- Posted on 17 Oct 2016
- 1-minute read
Photo: Anna Zhu
Medical Journal of Australia,
High-level evidence shows that women are better off both physically and psychologically when they are able to access midwifery-led continuity of care.
Yet barely one in 10 Australian women has access to this model of care.
Professor Homer examined several studies to determine the clinical outcomes, the views of women and midwives and the health services costs.
"This is not alternative anymore – this is mainstream care and something that all public health services should be providing," she said.
"If we had a drug that made a difference, from a systematic review of 15 trials, but we only gave it to 8 per cent of people who could benefit from it, wouldn't that be a problem? Because it's a model of care, it's seen as OK not to provide because it's too hard and requires organisational change," she said.
Byline: Fiona McGill