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June 28-29, 2019 | Oslo, Norway
Volume 08
Journal of Medical and Health Sciences | ISSN : 2319-
Breast Pathology and Cancer, Gynecology and Obstetrics Pathology, Palliativecare and Gerontology 2019
Joint Event
Breast Pathology & Cancer
Palliativecare & Gerontology
Gynecology and Obstetrics Pathology
What are the barriers for implementing psychosocial assessment in the private sector?
Tanya Connell
and
Bryanne Barnett
University of Sydney, Australia
A
pproximately 30-40% of obstetric women choose to deliver in the private sector in Australia. Compared
to the public sector, women in the private sector are more likely to have an induction of labour, a caesarean
section, an instrumental delivery and a longer postnatal stay. Obstetricians and midwives in the private sector
note that the role of obstetricians in postnatal care is minimal. Psychosocial assessment, including depression
screening, as part of perinatal care has been deemed good practice in the national clinical guidelines for
perinatal depression and anxiety. However, little is known about psychosocial assessment in the private
hospital sector. The primary aim of this study was to establish what is known about such assessment for women
who choose private obstetric/maternity and postnatal care, particularly the availability and appropriateness of
referral pathways and barriers to implementation. The study included implementing psychosocial assessment
as part of the booking-in process at a regional private hospital in NSW. This presentation reports on the
barriers encountered in introducing psychosocial assessment to the pilot site. Recommendations for how to
identify and overcome some of these barriers will be presented, with the aim of facilitating the introduction
of this assessment at other private hospitals. Access to information on risks to maternal and infant health
is considered as fundamental privilege of antenatal care. Routinely assessing and measuring psychosocial
risks and mental disorders are essential activities in evaluating the need to provide appropriate and timely
responses to identified risks, to reduce infant mortality, preterm births and low birth weight infants. The
perinatal period provides a unique opportunity to identify and intervene in perinatal anxiety and depression,
partner violence, substance use problems, unresolved loss and other traumatic history. There is an increasing
move internationally to standardize and make routine the psychosocial assessment and depression screening
of all pregnant women.
RRJMHS 2019, Volume 08