title: The profile of women who consult midwives in Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no Australian data on the characteristics of women who consult with midwives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the profile of women who consult midwives in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional research was conducted as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). Participants were the younger (31-36 years) cohort of the ALSWH who completed a survey in 2009, and indicated that they were currently pregnant (n=801). The main outcome measure was consultation with a midwife.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 801 women who indicated that they were currently pregnant at the time of the survey, 19%, 42%, and 70% of women in the first, second and third trimesters respectively had consulted with a midwife. Women were more likely to consult a midwife if they: also consulted with a hospital doctor (OR=2.70, 95% CI: 1.66, 4.40); also consulted with a complementary and alternative medicine practitioner (OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.25, 3.03); were depressed (OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.28); constipated (OR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.13); or had been diagnosed or treated for hypertension during pregnancy (OR=2.78, 95% CI: 1.27, 6.09). Women were less likely (OR=0.34, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.56) to consult with a midwife if they had private health insurance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women were more likely to consult with midwives in conjunction with consultations with hospital doctors or complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. Women with private health insurance were less likely to consult midwives. More research is necessary to determine the implications of the lack of midwifery care for these women.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
authors.forename: Christine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Catling-Paull
authors.forename: Vanessa L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Scarf
authors.forename: Caroline S E
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Homer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Consultation; Midwifery; Midwives; Pregnancy; Women