title: General practice registrars' views on maternity care in general practice in New Zealand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of general practitioners (GPs) providing maternity care in New Zealand has declined dramatically since legislative changes of the 1990s. The Ministry of Health wants GPs to provide maternity care again.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate New Zealand general practice registrars' perspectives on GPs' role in maternity care; specifically, whether maternity services should be provided by GPs, registrars' preparedness to provide such services, and training opportunities available or required to achieve this.
  
  
  METHODS
  An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to all registrars enrolled in The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners' (RNZCGP's) General Practice Education Programme (GPEP) in 2012, via their online learning platform OWL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  165 of the 643 general practice registrars responded (25.7% response rate). Most (95%) believe that GPs interested and trained in maternity care should consider providing antenatal, postnatal or shared care with midwives, and 95% believe women should be able to access maternity care from their general practice. When practising as a GP, 90% would consider providing antenatal and postnatal care, 47.3% shared care, and 4.3% full pregnancy care. Professional factors including training and adequate funding were most important when considering providing maternity care as a GP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ninety-five percent of general practice registrars who responded to our survey believe that GPs should provide some maternity services, and about 90% would consider providing maternity care in their future practice. Addressing professional issues of training, support and funding are essential if more GPs are to participate in maternity care in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Chrystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand. dawn.miller@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Dawn L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged