A new study from a Monash University-led team reveals that many Australian mothers find it challenging to navigate their personal health care between pregnancies. The research highlights that health consultations often focus primarily on babies and children, leaving mothers’ health needs overlooked. This neglect can have serious consequences for both women and their future children.
The study emphasizes the importance of interconception care, which helps prevent and manage health issues such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. However, many patients are unfamiliar with this term and what it entails.
According to the paper titled Australian Women’s Experiences and Perceptions of Interconception Care: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, approximately 350,000 women die each year worldwide due to complications from pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, over 15 million women live with disabilities and illnesses related to these experiences.
Published in BMJ – Sexual and Reproductive Health, the study was conducted by Sarmitha Kodavaluru during her Honours research, under the guidance of Dr. Sharon James and Professor Danielle Mazza from the SPHERE Centre of Research Excellence at Monash University.
Dr. James pointed out that the maternal mortality rate in Australia is notably higher among women with modifiable risk factors, such as obesity and smoking. She stressed the need for early interventions to reduce these risks.
“For instance, targeted support to combat obesity can promote healthier pregnancies and births. However, lifestyle changes, like increasing physical activity, take time to show results,” Dr. James explained.
If these lifestyle risks are not addressed, they can lead to conditions such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. These conditions increase the likelihood of cardiovascular problems, preterm births, and fetal growth restrictions.
Interconception care involves reviewing the outcomes of previous pregnancies, providing education about postpartum contraception, ensuring optimal spacing between pregnancies, and identifying maternal risk factors. These risk factors can include lifestyle, medical, environmental, occupational, and social aspects.
The study was based on in-depth interviews with 15 mothers who had already given birth to at least one child and were planning to have more.
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