title: From Consultation to Application: Practical Solutions for Improving Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes for Adolescent Aboriginal Mothers at a Local Level.
abstract: Adolescent pregnancy has been typically linked to a range of adverse outcomes for mother and child. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have a higher proportion of adolescent births compared with other adolescent Australian women, and are at greater risk of poorer psychosocial and clinical outcomes if they are not well supported during pregnancy and beyond. Drawing on existing literature and consultations with young Aboriginal women and health professionals supporting pregnant Aboriginal women in Western Australia, this paper discusses the importance of creating models of antenatal care using a "social determinants of health" framework. Destigmatizing young parenthood and providing continuity of caregiver in culturally safe services, with culturally competent health professionals provides a means to encourage engagement with the health system and improve health outcomes for young mothers and their babies.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia. Tracy.Reibel@telethonkids.org.au.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reibel
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia. Paula.Wyndow@telethonkids.org.au.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wyndow
authors.affiliation: Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia. Roz.Walker@telethonkids.org.au.
authors.forename: Roz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walker
keywords: Aboriginal women; adolescent pregnancy; psychosocial risk; social determinants of health