Journal of Children and Young People's Health

Problem Birth trauma affects 30% of Australian women but how experiences of birth trauma are identified in the Western Australian maternal and child health nursing context is unclear.

Background Birth trauma can have serious consequences including impaired maternal and infant bonding, impacts on child development and maternal post-traumatic stress disorder. Consequently the recent parliamentary inquiry investigating birth trauma in New South Wales strongly recommended the implementation of effective policies for prevention, screening and management of birth trauma. Maternal and child health nurses have close contact with many families in the early postnatal period and are ideally placed to identify experiences of birth trauma, but how they do so in the Western Australian context has not been investigated.

Aim This paper reviews the screening and management pathways for women affected by birth trauma available to maternal and child health nurses in Western Australia.

Methods A desktop review of clinical policies guiding Australian maternal and child health nurses for provisions on birth trauma detection and management was undertaken. Findings were contrasted with international clinical policies.

Findings and recommendations Clinical policy for Western Australian maternal and child health nurses to identify and manage experiences of birth trauma appears to be absent. Recommendations are made to improve identification and support.

Conclusion Appropriate maternal and child health clinical policy that supports women who have experienced birth trauma in Western Australia will enhance outcomes for new mothers, infants, partners and families.

Purpose To explore the effectiveness of animal assisted interventions (AAIs) in a paediatric pop-up clinic conducted through a school of nursing’s outreach program.

Method A quality improvement project with quantitative and qualitative responses was used for this study. Families of children seen in the clinic and health professional students that participated in the clinic completed surveys developed by the researchers to assess experience and satisfaction with the incorporation of AAIs during paediatric pop-up clinics.

Findings Quantitative findings indicate that AAIs were well received by families and interprofessional students. Both groups felt that this type of intervention should be included in paediatric clinic settings. They felt that AAIs, particularly teams with dogs, should be considered as meaningful members of interprofessional teams.

Conclusion This study supports the positive impact AAI has on paediatric patients, and advocates for the consideration of AAI teams as part of interprofessional healthcare teams.