Abstract
Background
Satisfaction with antenatal care could differ depending on the organisation and the
context of care.
Aim
To compare antenatal care in Australia and Sweden, to identify deficiencies in the
content of antenatal care and what aspects contributed most in dissatisfaction with
antenatal care.
Methods
A longitudinal survey of 123 Australian and 386 Swedish women recruited during one
year in regional hospitals in Sweden and Australia. Data collected by three questionnaires.
Results
Women in Australia had more antenatal visits, less continuity of midwife caregiver
but were more satisfied with antenatal education and the emotional aspects of antenatal
care. Although the overall satisfaction was high, deficiencies were found in more
than half of the studied variables in the content of care. Women in Sweden were more
dissatisfied with information about labour and birth (OR 3.1; 1.8–5.3) and information
about the time following birth (OR 3.8; 2.2–6.3), but more satisfied with the involvement
of the father (OR 0.3; 0.2–0.6). Factors that contributed most to dissatisfaction
with antenatal care overall were deficiency in information about pregnancy related
issues (OR 3.4; 1.3–8.7) and not being taken seriously by the midwife (OR 4.1; 1.6–10.1).
Conclusion
Satisfaction with antenatal care was high in both groups of women. Australian women
were more satisfied than the Swedish women with the emotional aspects of care. Deficiencies
were found in more than half of the variables measured relating to the specific aspects
of care. Lack of information and not being treated seriously were important factors
for not being satisfied.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 16, 2012
Accepted:
June 22,
2012
Received:
June 18,
2012
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2012 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
