For pregnant Aboriginal women living in WA’s East Pilbara, significant issues systematically impede their pregnancy journey and a safe and healthy start to life for their babies.
The Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) has identified gaps including a lack of access to timely and culturally appropriate antenatal and postnatal care, particularly in Newman; lack of access to clinical and emotional care and appropriate accommodation for women waiting to give birth in Perth or Port Hedland, causing stress; and the need for better coordination between different clinical services after birth and for babies and young children.
In response PAMS developed the Upstream Health (Perinatal and Early Child Development) Project with the aim of creating better conditions for babies and children to start their life with strong foundations. The project will implement and refine a system of perinatal care and early childhood development support using newly recruited family support workers and midwives, existing child health nurses, Aboriginal health workers and general practitioners.
The model focuses on:
- Building relationships with Martu women with young children, first time mothers and those likely to become pregnant within the next two years
- Increasing the health literacy of families and two-way learning about family health and wellbeing from pre-conception to pregnancy and their early years of child development
- Culturally secure, trauma-informed antenatal and postnatal care, and transition health planning for newborns and mothers
- Working with mothers to support attuned and responsive care giving as well as supporting the health and development of the baby
- Continuity of care before, during and after the birth including by accompanying birthing women to hospital where appropriate through the WA Country Health Service Patient Assisted Transport Scheme to Port Hedland
- Internal referrals and support through other PAMS services such as environmental health, allied health and social and emotional wellbeing.
During the development and delivery of this new model of care, PAMS will assist the Journey Together team to understand the strengths and needs of pregnant Aboriginal women and their families in the East Pilbara, how best to support those needs and where the gaps are in current services.