eCite Digital Repository
Rural maternity care and health policy: Parents' experiences
Citation
Evans, R and Veitch, C and Hays, RB and Clark, M and Larkins, S, Rural maternity care and health policy: Parents' experiences, Australian Journal of Rural Health, 19, (6) pp. 306-311. ISSN 1440-1584 (2011) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2011 National Rural Health Alliance
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1440-1584.2011.01230.x
Abstract
Objective: To explore rural residents' experiences of access to maternity care with consideration of the policy context.
Design: This paper describes findings from focus groups with parents which formed part of case study data from a larger study.
Setting: Four north Queensland rural towns.
Participants: Thirty-three parents living in one of the four rural towns.
Main outcome measures: Identifying prevalent themes in case studies regarding rural parents' expectations and experiences in accessing maternity care.
Results: Parents desired a local, safe and consistent maternity service. Removing or downgrading rural services introduced new barriers to care for rural residents: (i) increased financial costs; (ii) family issues; and (iii) safety concerns.
Conclusions: Although concerns about rural residents' health status and health care access have received significant policy attention for over a decade, many of the problems which prompted these policy initiatives remain today. Current policy approaches should be re-evaluated in order to improve rural Australians' access to vital health services such as maternity care.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | case study, health access, north Queensland, policy |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Health services and systems |
Research Field: | Health and community services |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Evaluation of health and support services |
Objective Field: | Evaluation of health outcomes |
UTAS Author: | Hays, RB (Professor Richard Hays) |
ID Code: | 95026 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 9 |
Deposited By: | Medicine |
Deposited On: | 2014-09-23 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-29 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page