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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

National review of maternity services 2008: women influencing change

Authors: Meredith J McIntyre, Karen Francis, Ysanne Chapman

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

In 2009 the Australian government announced a major program of reform with the move to primary maternity care. The reform agenda represents a dramatic change to maternity care provision in a society that has embraced technology across all aspects of life including childbirth.

Methods

A critical discourse analysis of selected submissions in the consultation process to the national review of maternity services 2008 was undertaken to identify the contributions of individual women, consumer groups and organisations representing the interests of women.

Results

Findings from this critical discourse analysis revealed extensive similarities between the discourses identified in the submissions with the direction of the 2009 proposed primary maternity care reform agenda. The rise of consumer influence in maternity care policy reflects a changing of the guard as doctors' traditional authority is questioned by strong consumer organisations and informed consumers.

Conclusions

Unified consumer influence advocating a move away from obstetric -led maternity care for all pregnant women appears to be synergistic with the ethos of corporate governance and a neoliberal approach to maternity service policy. The silent voice of one consumer group (women happy with their obstetric-led care) in the consultation process has inadvertently contributed to a consensus of opinion in support of the reforms in the absence of the counter viewpoint.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
National review of maternity services 2008: women influencing change
Authors
Meredith J McIntyre
Karen Francis
Ysanne Chapman
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-11-53

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