Group Pregnancy
Care Study
The Group Pregnancy Care (GPC) Study is implementing and evaluating a new approach to antenatal and postnatal care that involves inter-agency collaboration between public maternity hospitals, refugee settlement agencies, and maternal and child health services. The program is cost-free; provides care and information that is woman-directed, culturally appropriate and in women’s preferred language; and facilitates links and referrals to services as necessary.
What is already known?
Women of refugee backgrounds giving birth in Australia experience higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes than Australian born mothers. Families from refugee background are more likely to experience physical, mental and social health problems related to the ongoing impacts of trauma associated with flight from war and persecution in countries of origin, and challenges of settlement in a new country.
‘People come when they feel safe because it’s a safe place to be. And that takes time to build that awareness out in the communities… you’ve got to give programs time to develop their roots in the community and for the community to come forward’
– GPC team
Model of Group Pregnancy Care
What this study adds
Group Pregnancy Care is an innovative model of antenatal care, co-designed with communities of refugee background and other key stakeholders. The program aims to create culturally safe places for women to connect, access information and receive pregnancy care and support in their own language, strengthen health literacy and self-efficacy and contribute to improved maternal and child health outcomes for families of refugee background. Formative evaluation has been conducted by the Intergenerational Health group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, in collaboration with the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc. (Foundation House) and health services providing care to families of refugee background in Melbourne’s west and northern suburbs.
What’s next?
Program implementation and evaluation are ongoing. Birthing outcomes data and interviews with women that participated in two GPC programs (Healthy Happy Beginnings involving the Karen community; and Happy Mothers involving the Assyrian Chaldean community) is being analysed to generate reports and study findings. In addition, interviews with GPC staff and stakeholders about their experiences of implementing a trauma-informed model of care are being analysed.
Where can I read more?
Cultural safety and belonging for refugee background women attending Group Pregnancy Care: An Australian qualitative study.
Riggs E, Muyeen S, Brown S, Dawson W, Petschel P, Tardiff W, … Yelland J. Birth, (2017).
Group Pregnancy Care for women of refugee background and their families: Formative Evaluation.
Riggs E, Krastev A, Hearn F, FitzPatrick K.M., Alqas Alias M, Toke S, Szwarc J, Biggs L, Sharma S, Gold L, Brown S.J.
Group Pregnancy Care for refugee background women: a codesigned, multimethod evaluation protocol applying a community engagement framework and an interrupted time series design.
Riggs E, Yelland J, Mensah F.K., Gold L, Szwarc J, Kaplan I… Brown S.J. BMJ Open, (2021).
Bridging the Gap Policy and Practice Brief 2: Group Pregnancy Care for Refugee Background Women.
Riggs E, Yelland J, Brown S.J., Dawson W, Szwarc J, Casey S.
Finding our own ways of working together: reflections on implementing and facilitating a multidisciplinary and equity-oriented model of Group Pregnancy Care for women of refugee background.
Hearn F, Biggs L, Brown S, Krastev A, Szwarc J, Riggs E. Midwifery, (2023).
Who can I contact for more information?
Elisha Riggs
elisha.riggs@mcri.edu.au
Stephanie Brown
stephanie.brown@mcri.edu.au