title: Which mothers receive a post partum home visit in Queensland, Australia? A cross-sectional retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although home visiting in the early post partum period appears to have increased, there are limited data defining which women receive a visit and none that include Queensland. We aimed to investigate patterns of post partum home visiting in the public and private sectors in Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected via a retrospective cross-sectional survey of women birthing in Queensland between 1 February and 31 May 2010 at 4 months post partum (n = 6948). Logistic regression was used to assess associations between receiving a home visit and sociodemographic, clinical and hospital variables. Analyses were stratified by public and private birthing sector because of significant differences between sectors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Public sector women were more likely to receive a visit from a nurse or midwife (from the hospital or child health sector) within 10 days of hospital discharge (67.2%) than private sector women (7.2%). Length of hospital stay was associated with home visiting in both sectors. Some vulnerable subpopulations in both sectors were more likely to be visited, whereas others were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Home visiting in Queensland varies markedly between the public and private sector and is less common in some vulnerable populations. Further consideration to improving the equity of community post partum care in Queensland is needed.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Level 8, Health Sciences Building, RBWH, Herston, Qld 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brodribb
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Qld 4059, Australia. Email.
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006792:House Calls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011793:Queensland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult