Table 1 Characteristics of participating health centres, women and early pregnancy care
Characteristic | NT Top End | NT Central Australia | Far West NSW | WA | North QLD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. of health centres | 13 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 34 |
Governance models of health centres | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Government funded/operated | 7 (54%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (33%) | 4 (100%) | 14 (41%) |
   Managed by local or regional Indigenous committee or board | 6 (46%) | 2 (100%) | 6 (100%) | 6 (67%) | 0 (0%) | 20 (59%) |
Accreditation status | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Accredited | 6 (46%) | 2 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (44%) | 1 (25%) | 13 (38%) |
   Not accredited | 7 (54%) | 0 (0%) | 6 (100%) | 5 (56%) | 3 (75%) | 21 (62%) |
Population sizes of communities served | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   ≤ 500 | 4 (31%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (17%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (25%) | 6 (18%) |
   501-999 | 4 (31%) | 1 (50%) | 3 (50%) | 1 (11%) | 2 (50%) | 11 (32%) |
   ≥1000 | 5 (38%) | 1 (50%) | 2 (33%) | 8 (89%) | 1 (25%) | 17 (50%) |
No. of women participating in maternal health audits | 136 | 45 | 103 | 193 | 58 | 535 |
Median age of women (years) | 23.7 | 24.8 | 25.8 | 26.2 | 26.4 | 25.3 |
Indigenous status | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Indigenous | 96% | 100% | 61% | 93% | 95% | 89%* |
   Non-Indigenous | 3% | 0% | 34% | 6% | 0% | 9%* |
   Not stated | 1% | 0% | 5% | 1% | 5% | 2% |
Mean estimated gestational age at the first antenatal visit (weeks) | 14 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Proportion of women with estimated gestational age at first antenatal visit < 12 weeks | 49% | 44% | 35% | 42% | 34% | 42% |
Mean number of antenatal visits | 9 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7* |
First antenatal assessments by: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Aboriginal health workers | 9% | 0% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
   Nurses | 25% | 2% | 3% | 17% | 33% | 17%* |
   Midwives | 40% | 82% | 50% | 25% | 28% | 39%* |
   Doctors | 10% | 16% | 13% | 51% | 3% | 25%* |
   Unknown | 16% | 0% | 32% | 2% | 31% | 14%* |
Proportion of women with folic acid prescribed before 20 weeks | 29% | 49% | 3% | 33% | 24% | 27%* |
Proportion of women with folic acid prescribed prior to conception | 12% | 7% | 0% | 8% | 16% | 8% |
Proportion of women with iron prescribed | 76% | 73% | 29% | 63% | 41% | 58%* |
Proportion of women with a general antenatal care plan present in the file | 93% | 98% | 65% | 82% | 86% | 83% |