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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 12, 2021
Accepted:
January 4,
2021
Received in revised form:
December 1,
2020
Received:
October 2,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
