How Risk Definitions Impact Maternity Care Service Provision

This report addresses the question of how different definitions of 'risk' impact the provision of primary maternity care services. It begins by identifying the problem, which is the perception of childbirth as a risky business, and explores the various risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, includi...Read More

1Birth has been described as “a risky business."
Birth has been described as "a risky business," how do different
definitions of "risk" impact on the provision of primary maternity
care services?
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2Birth has been described as “a risky business."
Table of contents
Step 1. Problem Identification.........................................................................................................3
Step 2. Literature search..................................................................................................................3
Step 3- Data evaluation....................................................................................................................6
Step 4: Data analysis........................................................................................................................8
Step 5: Data interpretations.............................................................................................................9
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................13
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3Birth has been described as “a risky business."
Step 1. Problem Identification
The birth has been depicted as a 'risky business; that is considered in the hospital,
and that can bring obstetrics in the concept. The risk is also said to be as a defined concept of
childbirth, which approaches the obstetrical risk that women may hold in a particular context.
Maternity care has major risks that can be obstructed with good health. A woman has to face
many challenges during the period of pregnancy for the well being and later during the postnatal
period. The most important influence that birth is said to be a risky business is because many
women do not consider their wellbeing and sound health after the pregnancy, which can lead to
various risks. To minimize the risk, the childbirth can be managed with critical monitoring of
pregnancy period to probe the abnormalities during the birth time (Scott, Watermeyer &
Wessels, 2019).
Another significant risk the childbirth can be associated can be due to the dominance
of infant feeding risk, intersections of sociological risk and parenting risk. The goal of this
subject review is to understand and assess the obstetrical risks of birth and the overall approaches
that can be strategies to approach the good health of mothers and child pre and post the delivery.
(Hutton et al., 2015).
The women have the right to expect the high standard of maternity care because
Australia tends to be the country that demands the highest maternity care in the health system.
However, the problem related to childbirth can be taken care of in a safe, fair, inclusive and
effective way if a right hospital and right expertise doctor has been chosen. To deal with all the
aspects of pre-pregnancy health care and through the postnatal period, the women m=must put
themselves and their babies in center of planning by collaborating with the highest standard of
doctors and hospital care to maintain their health and to eliminate the risk factors in the best
possible way (Shlonsky and Mildon, 2017).
Step 2. Literature search
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4Birth has been described as “a risky business."
The risk of birth is associated with health problems and complications that can arrive
during pregnancy. The risks of birth are involved with the baby’s and mother’s health. The term
risky business is defined to birth is due to the reason that it can lead to life-threatening situations
at times for both women and baby. Some women are associated with health problems before
their pregnancy that can lead to complication while delivering and to their baby. There are also
many risks factors that can arise during the delivery period such as abnormal complications
during the labour (Ekmekci, Gencdal, Demirel & Kelekci, 2019).
The risks of pregnancy
In Australia, the birth rate of pregnancy in women is at the highest levels as compared
in the four decades. However, birth is defined as a risky business for women due to the increased
factor of such things:
 High blood pressures
 Congenital disabilities
 Miscarriage
 Twins
 Difficult labour pain
 Gestational diabetes
The studies have even shown that the high risk of birth problems is more likely to
have in older women that are in the age of mid30's. However, with effective prenatal care and
with good healthcare facilities women can take care of high risks on their babes and in
themselves (Platt, Thomas, Scott & Williams, 2018).
Risks of chromosome problems in pregnancy
During pregnancy times, the researchers have stated that the risks of chromosome
problems are seen in pregnant women. The risk is stated to be in 1 out of 1350 women who
conceives at the age of 13. The risk increase to about 1 in 150 women who conceive at the age of
45. The risk factor of this problem is generally high compared to any other problem as it can be
highly dangerous for mothers as well as for the baby in the future run (Grainger, Gorter, Al-
Kobati & Boddam-Whetham, 2017).
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5Birth has been described as “a risky business."
However, by getting the early care and medications, he down syndrome's effects can
be minimized in babies.
Risks of miscarriage in pregnancy
The researchers have also shown that the chances of miscarriage are high in women.
The risks can occur, in about the first half trimesters due to the chromosome problems in the
baby. So, miscarriage is more likely the possible cause of increased risks to get pregnant for a
woman in the future.
The models of risk care
The maternity review has a wide range of care models that are being practiced in
Australia, and it is estimated that around 93% of women receive the care through the four major
models that are from combined maternity care, provide maternity care, shared maternity care and
public hospital care. To define the range models and to facilities the meaning of programs it is
essential to study the nomenclature of maternity care (Philogene, 2019).
The estimates have shown that the majority of Australian women around 97% of
them gives birth in the general labour wards that a tiny portion of having a planned birth centre
in the hospital. The estimates have also shown that there are also women who have given birth
before even they could have reached the hospital. Moreover, the women who gave birth in the
hospital has been estimated to be around 196,960 in the public system and around 83,713 in the
private system.
The continuity of maternity care is one of the essential factors that the hospital and
the women herself should never ignore. The increasing demand for care models has been
accessed in a suitable based maternity centre's to give well-defined care for women and the
babies during pre and post delivery time.
The researches have also shown that there are also many Australian women who
access the continuity of their care pre or post their delivery form general practitioners and from
the specials obstetricians, it is recognized that these choices can support and access their care in
fine form by eliminating the risks of their pregnancy (Ljunggren, 2019).
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6Birth has been described as “a risky business."
The women’s journey during pregnancy
The provisions to get continuous care from maternity pathways and facilities have
been demonstrated that it can bring beneficial path on the outcomes of their health. The well-
formed care can help the women to develop sound mental health, body health and relationship
with their caregiver during the period of pregnancy and in the postnatal period.
The continuous care from maternity care can also be required with a flexible and
collaborative approach from the maternity services and from the maternity workforce at the
hospitals that can give support by integrations of services that includes:
 Active clinical communications pre and post pregnancy
 Effective consultations pathway
 Sound information and communication sharing on pregnancy
This approach to taking maternity care is quite essential for the owners who are linked
with severe risks of their pregnancy. They must effectively communicate during their pregnancy
semesters so that the specialists can give the best services to eliminate the risks in time (Font and
Maguire-Jack, 2019).
The transitions of family and child healthcare should also be provided as new information
so that the risks can be minimized in the postnatal period.
Some women also experienced the maternity care that may not be well coordinated
according to them, the factors that can influences this can be in between the move of:
 Private and public systems
 Rural, remote, metropolitan and regional locations
 The different tertiary levels of care
 Different cares of maternity specialists
The pathways in different aspects of the health system can also lack due to the
discontinuity of care in women in pregnancy during birth and to the parenthood. The maternity
experience and outcomes and neglection of care by women can adversely affect their health
(Skilbrei and Spanger, 2018).
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7Birth has been described as “a risky business."
Step 3- Data evaluation
The maternity care comes into the relation to pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the
care of women and children's after the postpartum period of delivery. In Australia, maternity care
is provided by the general practitioners, gynaecologists and the midwives are the people who
give maternity care to the people (Kelliher, 2019).
To interpret the women, experience during their pregnancy and the quality of
maternity care they get in Australia, and it is necessary to take their ‘care path' through analyzing
their care system. In Australia, the tool is developed where they can evaluate the care of their
women patients. The tool is known from the name of ‘consumer quality index' which uses a
systematic framework that can help in tailoring the specific health care issues.
As the framework is developed by maternity care, the tool can help in gathering
about the women care in Australia that is reviewing during their pregnancy period, childbirth and
in their postpartum period. In this segment of the assignment, we are going to evaluate the data
and the quality of maternity care that Australia represents and the women's experience during the
different stages of care (Race and Hogue, 2019).
Method of data evaluation
Around 1258 pregnant women received postal care in their third semester of
pregnancy. The responders on the first questionnaire also received that around four weeks after
they deliver the care provided has given the ultimate care to the women as it is described by the
research. The reliability and the factor analysis composites of the measures that indicate the
quality of treatment that the care provider gives in different stages of pregnancy has been
constructed.
Results
Around 42.5 percent of the respondent in primary care throughout their pregnancy,
labour pain, birth period and during the postpartum period receives the care from a general
practitioner or mid wife's. The researches have also seen then around 32.2% of women give
delivery at home.
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8Birth has been described as “a risky business."
However, the majority of women around 60 percent experienced referrals from one
care provider to another so that they can get ultimate care from their primary to their secondary
care service. The overall composite measures on their treatments in different settings also get
differentiate as it is shown regardless of the maternity service they have received (Elhassan,
2018).
The quality of treatment that the pregnant women get during their pregnancy time in
Australia ranges from an average of 4 per cent and from 1.5 too. The overall rations on a 0-10
scale to give quality care during the antenatal period and in the postpartum, labour and birth
period is up to an average of 8.36.
The path of women to get high maternity care is straight forward in Australia. The
majority of women have seen to get switched from the primary to the secondary care at least
once during their birth and labour and also during their pregnancy time. The quality measures
results and care have also experienced the women care system in high range throughout. With
regards to giving the care during the period of labour and birth, the quality of care scores has
seen to be higher when the women know their care providers personally(Coxon, Sandall,
&Fulop, 2015).
Step 4: Data analysis
The maternity service data has reviewed and identified that there is a widerange of
maternity care modules that has been practised in Australia to give the best maternity care to the
pregnantAustralianwomen. The estimates show that around 92 per cent of Australian women
have received the maternity care in four models that are by combined maternity care service,
private maternity care service, shared maternity service and the combined maternity service
(Hodges et al. 2018).
The maternity care service data analysis has also identified that there is a wide range
of practice needed in all the four models and is estimated that they found models all together
give services to around 93 per cent pregnant women in Australia. It is also essential for the care
centres to standardizethe models in meaning full analysis(Lothian & DeVries, 2017).
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9Birth has been described as “a risky business."
Around 97 per cent of Australia women give birth in the traditional ward labour
setting that is very small from the proportions of accessing the birth centres or having a planned
homebirth. It is also seen that there is a small cohort of women who are seen giving births in the
hospital before they can even reach on time. However, it is seen that the women who give birth
in the hospital is around 75 per cent and in the public system it is seen around for 30 per cent
(Burgdorf et al. 2019).
As mentioned above continues care is very important for pregnant women. The
increasing demand for getting maternity care is also seen. Some women are seen more likely to
choose general practitioners who are highly specialized(Bowden, Sheehan &Foureur, 2016).
The journey of women in their pregnancy time and emphasis on care
The continued care in Australia at the maternity pathway has been demonstrated in a
positive outcome. The continued care will enable the women to develop a healthy relationship
with their care takes through their pregnancy period and during their postnatal period (Scott et al.
2019).
However, continued care and positive maternity care requires a very flexible and
collaborative approach through the maternity workforce and maternity services. So, an
integration of services could be given to the women that can lead to learning on effective
pathways on care and consultation, practical clinical trials and building a professional
relationship with the caregiver so that they can give the best approach during the pregnancy time.
The women must also share and communicate freely to their caretakers so that if any problem is
due to arise, it can be minimized with special attention (Greteman, 2018).
The approach in maternity care is also as necessary for the women but is also
essential for the babes havethey too required specialist care and services.
Step 5: Data interpretations
The improved maternity and child health are the crucial goal to be high in providing
the best maternity care. The below recommendations and outcomes will help to give high-quality
maternity care that can identify the opportunities to give a targeted improvement too. The
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recommendation has been underpinned through the process in Australia that can give a positive
outcome on how the health care system for women during their pregnancy period can be
improved in the hospitals(Hauck, Stoll, Hall &Downie, 2016). Thus, the outcomes and
recommendations can provide a complete picture of delivering the high quality of health care and
information to the women on whom they can take care of themselves (Davey, Watson, Rayner &
Rowlands, 2015).
Recommendations
Improving the women’s experience in antenatal care
 By taking an individual approach
The factors mentioned below can improve the women experience during the
pregnancy period in Australia. If the steps are taking into consideration to provide antenatal care:
 By creating a welcoming and a very comfortable space
 By proving the continuity of care
 By taking the time to establish trust and rapport
 Ensuring women’s confidentiality and privacy
 Involving the women’s partner during the procedure of delivery
 By giving a sound knowledge to women how she could care of herself
 By providing an in-depth knowledge to the women's community
 By giving scheduling of appointments
Well, the caretaker, general practitioner or the doctor who is dealing a pregnant
women case must make sure that the womenare getting appropriate care from their healthcare
team and could be assisted to coordinate services when required(Hutto et al. 2016).
 By providing support and essential information so that the women can make a decision
The researches have stated that the women in Torres Strait and aboriginal islander
have very few opportunities in which they can decide during their pregnancy period and on how
they can care themselves during their pregnancy period. The support and information should also
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be given to the women in a way where they should be known of all the strategies that can be
given to attain a positive change in their health(Boozarjomehri et al. 2016).
 Implementing advanced communication technology
The advanced communicating technologies are also considered as one of the key
components through which the capacity of maternity services can be increased to provide high-
quality care(Zerfu, Umeta & Baye, 2016). The opportunity can be responded by the hospitals if
they develop their e-health technology by unique identifies for the patients. The technology will
significantly help to enhance the information and communication between the maternity service
that will give a substantial result and benefit to the Australian women during their birth time and
also for their babies. The high-end technologies can also be introduced so that the better
communication can be delivered to give excellent services that can include the women decision
too so that they can give themselves ultimate care on themselves (Font and Maguire-Jack, 2019).
Conclusion
In conclusion, of this assignment, the maternity care of women in Australia; it is seen
that the women get less opportunity to obtain the necessary services during their labour or in the
postpartum period. The womenhave to face many barriers in Australia to access excellent
services and care needs during their pregnancy time (Burgdorf et al. 2019). The barriers may
include the lack of their awareness in the services and care needs and lack of information on
which they can get a service. The insufficient support and insufficient care in hospitals is also a
drawback which is seen in the discordant expectations in the women.
The study on maternity care of women in Australia during their birth period, labour
and birth of child contributes that it is the keen time that women must know what type of service
and care they need during the time and what health risks can be attached to them if they do not
get one on time. The study also contributed to the knowledge on safety for women in their
pregnancy care by giving them a full assessment on antenatal care that can identify the
opportunities for women to improve their care (Ekmekci et al. 2019).
In the assignment, the brief discussion has been taken place in both insightful and
feasible way that can help the women to measure their process of care and the outcomes of care
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to improve their safety and quality of health during the pregnancy. It is also significant to be
mentioned here that maternity care is the foundation of a strong nation. Babies are the future of
the country. Only a healthy mother can deliver a healthy baby. So, it is crucial to provide a
healthy environment to execute the riskiest business that is birth.
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