What do women feel about community-based antenatal care?

Objective: This study evaluated women's perceptions of a new community-base d model of continuity of antenatal care, the St George Outreach Maternity P roject (STOMP). The model was established in an attempt to address some of the ongoing concerns and criticisms regarding antenatal care in Australia: lack of continuity of care and caregiver; prolonged waiting times; and inac cessible clinics. Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 1,089 women (550 in the experimental group and 539 in the control group). The experimental g roup (the STOMP group) received antenatal care from small teams of midwives and an obstetrician in community-based settings. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered at 36 weeks' gestation, with a response rate of 75%. Results: Women in the STOMP group reported waiting significantly less time for antenatal visits with easier access to care. STOMP group women also rep orted a higher perceived 'quality' of antenatal care compared with the cont rol group. STOMP group women saw slightly more midwives and fewer doctors t han control group women did. Conclusion and implications: This model of care has implications for the pl anning and provision of antenatal services within the Australian public hea lth system, which is increasingly moving towards a community-based emphasis . Antenatal care is a service that can be successfully transferred into com munity-based settings with benefits for women.