Contraception enables women to attain the number and spacing of births they desire – crucial for health, economic and social wellbeing – yet many women lack access to information or services to achieve this postnatally and are at risk of unintentionally falling pregnant again soon after birth. Midwives are well-placed to provide contraception information and care, yet this is not common practice in Australia.

 

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of a comprehensive midwifery-led model of contraceptive care to increase access to and uptake of contraception.

 

Through this research, we will codesign, implement and evaluate a comprehensive model of midwifery-led contraceptive care to increase access to postpartum contraception. We anticipate this will empower women with knowledge, resources and services to plan pregnancies; increase midwives’ knowledge and skills to provide contraceptive care; and improve health system efficiency and cost savings, to transform policy and practice for postpartum contraceptive care in Australia.

 

This project is supported by an NHMRC Investigator Grant.