Midwifery continuity of care for women with complex pregnancies in Australia: an integrative review

Fox, D; Scarf, V; Turkmani, S; Rossiter, C; Coddington, R; Sheehy, A; Catling, C; Cummins, A; Baird, K

Midwifery continuity of care for women with complex pregnancies in Australia: an integrative review

Fox, D

Scarf, V

Turkmani, S

Rossiter, C

Coddington, R

Sheehy, A

Catling, C

Cummins, A

Baird, K

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women and Birth, 2023, 36, (2), pp. 187-194
Issue Date:: 2023-07-20

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fox, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8032-8633
dc.contributor.author	Scarf, V https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3503-9610
dc.contributor.author	Turkmani, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7819-5061
dc.contributor.author	Rossiter, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3833-3076
dc.contributor.author	Coddington, R https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2438-382X
dc.contributor.author	Sheehy, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0037-1501
dc.contributor.author	Catling, C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7352-2879
dc.contributor.author	Cummins, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0626-3365
dc.contributor.author	Baird, K https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0142-6962
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-13T00:38:38Z
dc.date.available	2022-07-11
dc.date.available	2023-09-13T00:38:38Z
dc.date.issued	2023-07-20
dc.identifier.citation	Women and Birth, 2023, 36, (2), pp. 187-194
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192
dc.identifier.issn	1878-1799
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172068
dc.description.abstract	Background All women require access to quality maternity care. Continuity of midwifery care can enhance women’s experiences of childbearing and is associated with positive outcomes for women and infants. Much research on these models has been conducted with women with uncomplicated pregnancies; less is known about outcomes for women with complexities. Aim To explore the outcomes and experiences for women with complex pregnancies receiving midwifery continuity of care in Australia. Methods This integrative review used Whittemore and Knafl’s approach. Authors searched five electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and MAG Online) and assessed the quality of relevant studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) appraisal tools. Findings Fourteen studies including women with different levels of obstetric risk were identified. However, only three reported outcomes separately for women categorised as either moderate or high risk. Perinatal outcomes reported included mode of birth, intervention rates, blood loss, perineal trauma, preterm birth, admission to special care and breastfeeding rates. Findings were synthesised into three themes: ‘Contributing to safe processes and outcomes’, ‘Building relational trust’, and ‘Collaborating and communicating’. This review demonstrated that women with complexities in midwifery continuity of care models had positive experiences and outcomes, consistent with findings about low risk women. Discussion The nascency of the research on midwifery continuity of care for women with complex pregnancies in Australia is limited, reflecting the relative dearth of these models in practice. Conclusion Despite favourable findings, further research on outcomes for women of all risk is needed to support the expansion of midwifery continuity of care.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Women and Birth
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2022.07.001
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
dc.subject.classification	3215 Reproductive medicine
dc.subject.classification	4204 Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Infant
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Infant, Newborn
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Premature Birth
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Premature Birth
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Infant
dc.subject.mesh	Infant, Newborn
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Infant
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Infant, Newborn
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Premature Birth
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.title	Midwifery continuity of care for women with complex pregnancies in Australia: an integrative review
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	36
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/WHO Collaborating Centre
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
utslib.copyright.status	embargoed	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
utslib.copyright.embargo	2025-03-03T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2023-09-13T00:38:37Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	36
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

Background All women require access to quality maternity care. Continuity of midwifery care can enhance women’s experiences of childbearing and is associated with positive outcomes for women and infants. Much research on these models has been conducted with women with uncomplicated pregnancies; less is known about outcomes for women with complexities. Aim To explore the outcomes and experiences for women with complex pregnancies receiving midwifery continuity of care in Australia. Methods This integrative review used Whittemore and Knafl’s approach. Authors searched five electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and MAG Online) and assessed the quality of relevant studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) appraisal tools. Findings Fourteen studies including women with different levels of obstetric risk were identified. However, only three reported outcomes separately for women categorised as either moderate or high risk. Perinatal outcomes reported included mode of birth, intervention rates, blood loss, perineal trauma, preterm birth, admission to special care and breastfeeding rates. Findings were synthesised into three themes: ‘Contributing to safe processes and outcomes’, ‘Building relational trust’, and ‘Collaborating and communicating’. This review demonstrated that women with complexities in midwifery continuity of care models had positive experiences and outcomes, consistent with findings about low risk women. Discussion The nascency of the research on midwifery continuity of care for women with complex pregnancies in Australia is limited, reflecting the relative dearth of these models in practice. Conclusion Despite favourable findings, further research on outcomes for women of all risk is needed to support the expansion of midwifery continuity of care.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172068