NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: South Slave Region

Tags: health, health care evaluation, pregnancy, midwifery

Objective(s): To analyze the birth outcomes from the Fort Smith Midwifery Program.

Project Description: The objective of this project is to analyze the birth outcomes from the Fort Smith Midwifery Program. The hypothesis of this research project is that the outcomes for mothers and babies of this midwifery-based birth centre in the rural and remote town of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories (NWT) will be comparable to birth outcomes from women using the midwifery services in Nunavik, Quebec and to women residing in Hay River who delivered at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife. Using a retrospective cohort study design, outcomes from over 300 women who have been cared for during peripartal period at the midwifery service in Fort Smith will be evaluated. The birth outcomes from Fort Smith will be compared to the outcomes from women using the midwifery services in Nunavik, Quebec (2005-2012) and to women who transferred from Hay River to Yellowknife, NWT to deliver their babies. The statistical analysis will encompass adjusted odds ratios to evaluate many the outcomes and indicators. Two focus groups were held for women in Fort Smith to hear about their experiences with midwifery care and community birth. The data from Hay River will be used as a comparison group and at this time the research team do not intend to interview women in Hay River. The graduate student's thesis paper will be shared with the community as well as any academic papers or newspaper articles related to the project. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from January 15, 2014 to December 31, 2014.