Use of pregnancy counselling services in Australia 2007–2012. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shelley, Julia M.; Kavanagh, Shane; Graham, Melissa; Mayes, Catherine
• Is Part Of: Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. Volume 39:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Public health -- Australia -- Periodicals; Public health -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Australia -- Periodicals; Medical care -- New Zealand -- Periodicals; 362.10993
• DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12343
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1326-0200

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Objective</bold>: To assess the uptake of Medicare Benefit payments for non‐directive pregnancy support counselling which commenced in November 2006.</p> <p> <bold>Methods</bold>: Counts of services for pregnancy counselling from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2012, where a Medicare rebate was paid, were used to calculate age‐, state‐ and provider‐specific rates per 100, 000 women aged 15–44 years, and rates per 100, 000 births for each study year.</p> <p> <bold>Results</bold>: Rates of Medicare rebates for pregnancy counselling were low, with a mean of 90.6 services per 100, 000 women recorded over the study period. GP services were accessed most frequently, while services provided by allied health professionals averaged less than 5% of those for GPs. The overall rate of services fell in all jurisdictions except Victoria/Tasmania, although services provided by allied health professionals remained steady or rose in all jurisdictions over the study period.</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions</bold>: There has been a low uptake of pregnancy counselling covered by the Medicare Benefits Item numbers introduced in 2006, especially for services provided by allied health professionals. Due to a lack of available data, the impact on abortion rates is unknown.</p> <p> <bold>Implications</bold>: Provision of Medicare rebates for pregnancy counselling does not appear to be an effective way of assisting women with unintended pregnancies.</p> </abstract>