Retrospective audit of postnatal attendance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women attending a community-controlled health service in north Queensland

Background: Low uptake of postnatal care amongst Indigenous women is a concern. This study aimed to examine any associations with postnatal attendance by Indigenous women. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 198 women who attended Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS) for antenatal care between January 1, 2009 and January 1, 2011. Postnatal attendance and its relationship to demographic, behavioural, antenatal and intrapartum factors was assessed. Results: 48.0% (95/198) of women returned to TAIHS for postnatal care. A statistically significant positive association between antenatal and postnatal attendance was found using multivariate analysis (p<0.001). Discussion: Strategies are needed to improve postnatal attendance for Indigenous women and strengthening attendance during the antenatal period may be an indirect way of facilitating this. Better postnatal follow-up will enhance the capacity for health services to deliver preventative care to this population.

Australian Family Physician

Australian Family Physician

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0300-8495

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