Table 1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MIH program study characteristics
1st author and year | Program/service name | Publication type and Study Type | Location and Organisation Setting | Intervention Issue | Intervention Type and Components | Target Group, and Sample Size | Outcomes or Effects | Study Design and Study Quality (intervention studies only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Murphey, E. et al. (2012) [27] | The Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service (AMIHS) | Journal Article Program description (Outcomes based on previous evaluation of the NSW Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Strategy) | NSW State wide Government strategy delivered through local government areas (LGA) with care provided in the community | Health of Aboriginal women during pregnancy and perinatal morbidity and mortality of Aboriginal infants | -Antenatal and postnatal care-Training and support for midwives and Aboriginal Health Workers | Target Group: Aboriginal women and their babies, from conception up to 8 weeks postpartum | -Increased antenatal attendance -Higher birth weights -Decreased preterm births -Decreased perinatal mortality -Improved breastfeeding rates | N/A – Program Description |
NSW Health (2005) [18] | NSW Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Strategy (AMIHS) | Evaluation Report Intervention Research | NSW State wide Government strategy delivered through local government areas (LGA) with care provided in the community | Health of Aboriginal women during pregnancy and perinatal morbidity and mortality of Aboriginal infants | Targeted antenatal/postnatal programs | Target Group: Aboriginal women and their babies, from conception up to 8 weeks postpartum Sample Size: care provided to women in 2003 and 2004 n=689 people interviewed n=201 | -Improved antenatal attendance prior to 20 weeks gestation-Improved breastfeeding rates -Decrease in low birth weight babies Decrease in perinatal deaths -No change in proportion of women smoking during pregnancy | Study Design: Prospective program specific quantitative data compared with population-based data from the NSW Midwives Data Collection. Qualitative data collected through Interviews and focus groups. Study Quality: Mixed-method Quantitative - Weak Qualitative - Weak |
Boles, C. et al. (2005) [19] | The Alternative Birthing Project: Anangu Bibi | Conference paper Program description | Port Augusta and Whyalla SA – Northern and Far Northern Regional Health Service SA (rural) Delivered in people’s homes and across a range of local services and organisations including local Aboriginal Health Services. | Poor Aboriginal maternal and infant health, low antenatal attendance, low infant birth weight, high teenage pregnancy rates | -Continuum-of-care model led by Aboriginal maternal and infant care workers supported by midwives, GP and obstetrician Pregnancy checkups -Assessing for risk factors and education about early warning signs of complications-Health promotion and education-Postnatal support up to 8 weeks after birth | Target Group: Teenage mothers and young Aboriginal women | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Carter, E. et al. (2004) [20] | Congress Alukurra | Journal Article Intervention Research | Alice Springs, Central Australia (remote) ACCHO – Congress Alukurra | Women’s health | -Comprehensive antenatal and postnatal care-Shared maternity care -Gynaecological services -Sexual assault and domestic violence counselling and examinations -Health education -Transportation -Health worker training -Mobile bush clinic | Target Group: Aboriginal women and children Sample Size: Not available | -Increased client visits -Increase in women having first trimester antenatal visit -Slight increase in mean birth weight of infants from 1986-89 to 1991-95 and 1996-99. | Study Design: Analysis of documents and reports and secondary analysis of published and unpublished epidemiological data from Alukurra and the Northern Territory Midwives Collection. Routinely collected client information and changes in those factors over the previous five years was summarised. Interviews and consultations were conducted for qualitative study components. Study Quality: Mixed-method; Quantitative - Weak Qualitative – Moderate |
Jan, S. et al. (2004) [21] | Daruk Aboriginal Medical Service Midwifery Program | Journal Article Intervention research | Mt Druitt, Western Sydney (urban) ACCHO – Daruk Aboriginal Medical Service | Aboriginal perinatal and maternal health | -Antenatal and postnatal care -Antenatal checkups -Hospital booking -Transport -Home visits -Labour support and delivery -Hospital visits -Assistance with infant feeding | Target Group: Aboriginal women/mothers and their infants Sample Size: Not available | -Lower gestational age at first visit -Higher number of antenatal visits -Women reported positive experiences with Daruk | Study Design: Measures of antenatal attendance and perinatal outcomes in clinical records were compared with the NSW Midwives Data Collection. Interviews and focus groups were used for the qualitative component. Study Quality: Mixed-method; Holistic economic evaluation Quantitative - Moderate Qualitative – Moderate |
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet | Healthy for Life Maternal and Child Health Program, Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service | Webpage Program Description | Perth, WA (urban) ACCHO – Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service | Aboriginal maternal and child health | Goals: To improve pre-pregnancy health of women, increase pre-pregnancy immunisation, parental education and support, and home-visits | Target Group: Aboriginal women/mothers and children up to 5 years | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Campbell, S. et al. (2004) | Women’s Business Service Mildura | Journal Article Intervention research | Mildura, VIC (rural) ACCHO – Mildura Aboriginal Health Service | Maternity care | -Pregnancy screening -Antenatal and postnatal care -Education and information -Support during labour and birth -Check-up’s | Target Group: Aboriginal women in Mildura Sample Size: clients interviewed n=25 survey participants n=333 | Women attending the service were significantly more positive about many aspects of their care than women attending other rural public maternity services | Study Design: Interviews were conducted using and structured interview schedule based on the Victorian Survey of Recent Mothers 2000. The views and experiences of women attending the Women’s Business Service were assessed and contrasted with those of rural women who participated in the 2000 state wide survey. Study Quality: Qualitative - Strong |
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet | Moort Boodjari Mia (Family Pregnancy House) | Webpage Program description | Perth, WA (urban) Mainstream community health service – North Metropolitan Health Service | Maternal health care | -Antenatal and postnatal clinical care -Guidance, support and education | Target Group: Indigenous women, mothers and families, during pregnancy up to 4 weeks postpartum | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Panaretto, K. S. et al. (2007) [23] | Mums and Babies (MB) Program | Journal Article Intervention Research | Townsville, QLD (rural) ACCHO – Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Infant and maternal health | -Integrated model of antenatal shared care Integrated team approach between Aboriginal Health Worker, midwives/child health nurses, Doctors and Obstetric team -Indigenous outreach health worker -Pregnancy registrar -Walk in clinic -Family orientation -Care plans -PCR testing for STI’s -Transport service Brief intervention for risk factors (smoking cessation, nutrition, antenatal education, breast feeding, sudden infant death syndrome) | Target Group: Indigenous women Sample Size: MB group n=781 PreMB group n=84 | -Decrease in perinatal mortality -Increase in antenatal visits -Improvements in care planning -Completion of cycle-of-care -Antenatal education | Study Design: Comparative study with historical control group Study Quality: Quantitative - Weak |
Panaretto, K. et al. (2005) [24] | Mums and Babies (MB) Program | Journal Article Intervention Research | Townsville, QLD (rural) ACCHO – Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Infant and maternal health | Integrated model of antenatal shared care | Target Group: Indigenous women Sample Size: MB group n=45 PreMB group n=84 Contemporary control group n=540 | -Increase in number of women attending the program who gave birth at hospital -Increase in number of antenatal visits -Reduction in pre-term births | Study Design: Comparative study with historical control group and contemporary control group Study Quality: Quantitative - Weak |
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet | Nganampa Health Council Child and Maternal Health Program | Web page Program description | Anangu Pitjantjatjara/ Yankinytjatjaralands, SA (remote) ACCHO - Nganampa Health Council | Aboriginal child and maternal health | -An antenatal care program -Development and delivery of key messages health education packages for young mothers -Child health program: Protocolised growth monitoring for children under 5 years of age and targeted child health screening at ages 5, 10 and 14 | Target Group: Aboriginal mothers and children 0-14 years | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Power, C. et al. (2008) [28] | Ngangkitta Ngartotdli Karpandi (Supporting Mums and Babies) Program | Evaluation Report Intervention Research | Adelaide, SA (urban) Joint government and community initiative | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies health | Framework for an integrated maternity care service for Indigenous women and their babies. Accessible and provides culturally responsive and timely maternity services | Target Group: Indigenous mothers and their babies Sample Size: Women enrolled in project during evaluation n=14 | -All attending women had a antenatal plan -Women successfully engaged with the service -All women birthed at their local maternity service -Increase in referrals to appropriate support services -Women reported positive experiences of services | Study Design: Six phase Action Research design. Quantitative data collected from tools developed to measure key performance indicators were collated and compared to data for Aboriginal women and infants in the Southern Adelaide Health Service catchment area from the Pregnancy Outcomes Unit of the South Australian Department of Health. Face to face interviews with clients and telephone interviews with service providers were conducted for the qualitative study component. Study Quality: Mixed-method; Action Research - Quantitative - Weak Qualitative - Strong |
Dorman, R. et al. (1997) [15] | Ngua Gundi (Mother and Child) Program | Journal Article Program Description | Rockhampton, QLD (rural) Mainstream community health service | Indigenous maternal and infant health | -Antenatal clinic -Midwifery model of care - referrals to other medical practitioners -home visits -antenatal education -under 5’s clinic | Target Group: Indigenous mothers and children from pre-pregnancy to 5 years | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Smith, R. M. et al. (2000) [16] | Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture (WA) | Journal Article Intervention Research | Aboriginal communities across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, WA (remote) Community initiated program delivered by Aboriginal women across 5 communities. SW,SB,SC is a government developed program administered through the Territory Health Services Darwin | Infant birth weights and child growth | -Nutritional intervention to improve birth weights and growth of infants and children -Nutritional assessment of infants and children -Counselling of mothers and carers -Implementation of maternal support program | Target Group: Aboriginal mothers and children 0-3 years Sample Size: Not available | The intervention was not accompanied by any change in full-term birth weight but was associated with increased weight gain after 6 months. | Study Design: Comparative study with historical control group Study Quality: Quantitative - Weak |
Mackerras, D. (2001) [17] | Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture (NT) | Journal Article Intervention Research | NT (remote) Community-based program – program developed by the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services in conjunction with Aboriginal people | Infant birth weight | -Increased attendance for antenatal care in first trimester -Risk assessment for potential complications -Introduced nutritional assessment and monitoring into prenatal care -Strategies to improve maternal nutrition and increase maternal weight gain | Target Group: Aboriginal women who are pregnant or of childbearing age Sample Size: Not available | -Increase in the mean birth weight of infants of Aboriginal women -Changes in maternal weight were associated with changes in birth weight over time | Study Design: Data from the NT Midwives Collection and from antenatal charts for births in the communities were used to determine changes in mean birth weights of infants in the three pilot communities compares to other NT communities. Study Quality: Quantitative - Weak |
Tursan d’Espaignet, E. et al. (2003) [25] | Strong Women, Strong Babies, Strong Culture (NT) | Journal Article Intervention research | NT (remote) Community-based program – program developed by the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services in conjunction with Aboriginal people | Perinatal health and infant birth weight | -Senior women in communities helping younger women prepare for pregnancy -Antenatal care -Advice and encouragement to improve nutrition (including increase in use of bush foods) -Encouraging reduction in alcohol and tobacco consumption Encouragement to seek medical assistance | Target Group: Aboriginal women who are pregnant or of childbearing age Sample Size: Group 1 Pre-intervention n=577 Post-intervention n=829 Control group 1 Pre n=2118 Post n=3070 Group 2 Pre n=814 Post n=322 Control group 2 Pre n=3511 Post n=1677 | -Significant improvements in infant birth weight was reported in one intervention group | Study Design: A comparison of pre and post intervention birth weights in intervention and control communities was performed Study Quality: Quantitative - Weak |
Crook, L. et al. (2012) [29] | Waminda Mums and Bubs Program | Journal Article Program description | Nowra, NSW South Coast (rural) ACCHO – Women’s health and welfare service | Aboriginal maternal and child health | -Antenatal and postnatal care -Health and development information about infant care -Practical advice and assistance with breastfeeding, nutrition and parenting skills -Monitoring children’s weight, immunisation status and growth milestones -Early testing to detect issues with children’s hearing, sight speech and other developmental issues prior to commencing school - Health checks -Physical examinations -Screening -Pathology -Home visiting -Immunisation -Health assessments -Education sessions | Target Group: From pre-conception, to antenatal, birthing, postnatal and continuous care (lifelong care for all females and males up to 14 years) | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Adams, E. et al. (2011) [30] | Winnunga Nimmityjah Perinatal and infant mental health service | Journal Article Program description | ACT (urban) ACCHO - Winnunga Nimmityjah | Perinatal and infant social and emotional wellbeing (mental health) | Perinatal and infant mental health service | Target Group: Aboriginal mothers and their babies | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Wong, R. et al. (2011) [31] | Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Midwifery Access Program (AMAP) | Journal Article Intervention Research | ACT (urban) ACCHO - Winnunga Nimmityjah | Aboriginal maternal and child health | -Antenatal care -Birth support -Postnatal care - Full antenatal care -Home visits -Assistance with appointments -Transport -Birth support -Post natal follow up -immunisations | Target Group: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in ACT Sample Size: Attended AMAP Women n=187 Babies n=193 | AMAP clients had -Higher smoking rates -Lower caesarean ate -Lower proportion of pre-term births -Lower proportion of low birth weight babies | Study Design: Comparison between AMAP client data and ACT Maternal and Perinatal Collection data Study Quality: Quantitative - Weak |
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet | Wurli Wurlinjang child and maternal/ women’s health program | Web page Program description | Katherine and surrounding areas, NT (remote) ACCHO - Wurli Wurlinjang | Child and maternal/women’s health | -Health promotion and education. Preventative health care -childhood immunisations -growth assessment -child health checks -education around substance misuse and nutrition in early childhood development PAP screening | N/A | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet | Boodjari Yorda (Pregnant women’s) Program | Web page Program description (Outcomes provided with no supporting documentation) | Wheat belt region, WA (rural) Government program | Women’s/maternal health | -Antenatal and postnatal care -Home visits -Assistance attending appointments -Sexual and reproductive health education -Nutrition education support | Target Group: Indigenous women and their families | Reduction in overdue immunisations and improved nutritional status | N/A – Program Description |
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet | Moorditj Boodjaree yorgers (maternal health) | Web page Program description | Bentley-Armadale area, WA (urban) Mainstream community service – Medicare Local | Maternal health | -Antenatal and postnatal support -Home check ups -Information, education and resources about pregnancy, nutrition and taking baby home -At home post-natal support up to 6 weeks after birth -Information and resources about breastfeeding, immunisation, services and groups | Target Group: Indigenous mothers and babies up to 6 weeks postpartum | N/A | N/A – Program Description |
Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSI H), (2005) [26] | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child and Maternal Health Exemplar Site Initiative: Sire Reports 2005 Nganampa Health Council Child and Maternal Health Program (SA) Townsville Mums and Babies Program (QLD) Durri Aboriginal Medical Service Djuli Galban Program (NSW) | Report Intervention Research | Anangu Pitjantjatjara/ Yankinytjatjara lands, SA , Townsville QLD, Kempsey NSW (remote and rural) ACCHO - Nganampa Health Council ACCHO - Townsville Mums and Babies Program Aboriginal Medical Service - Durri Aboriginal Medical Service | Indigenous maternal and child health | Nganampa Antenatal care program -Development and delivery of Key Messages Health Education Packages for young mothers -Child health program including; childhood immunisation, protocolised growth monitoring for under 5’s, and targeted health checks at ages 5, 10 and 14 Mums and Babies -maternal/paternal and child health, acute care, preventive care and follow-up -one-on-one education/health promotion (eg antenatal and postnatal health, nutrition, substance use, family violence) -transport -shared antenatal care with the Townsville Hospital -immunisation -growth and developmental monitoring -Referral, advocacy and social support. Djuli Galban -Antenatal and postnatal services -Brief intervention education around risk factors such as smoking and drug use during pregnancy -Child health services -Immunisation services | Target Group: Indigenous women/mothers and children Sample Size: Not available | Nganampa Earlier antenatal attendance Increased antenatal attendance -Decrease in babies born with low birth weight -Decreased rates of malnutrition and stunting -Higher rates of childhood immunisation coverage Mums and Babies -Increased access to antenatal care -Increase in number of antenatal births per pregnancy -Decrease in pre-term births -Decrease in babies born with low birth weight -Increase in mean birth weight Djuli Galban -High rates of antenatal attendance prior to 20 weeks gestation -No significant changes in rates of pre-term births and babies with low birth-weight -Increased rates of childhood immunisation | Information on study design and methods not provided Weak |