Opportunities for primary health care: a qualitative study of perinatal health and wellbeing during bushfire crises

Family Practice - Tập 40 Số 3 - Trang 458-464 - 2023
Deborah Davis1,2, Celia Roberts3, Rebecca Williamson3, Ella Kurz2, Katelyn Barnes1,4, Alison M. Behie5, Rosalie Aroni4, Christopher J. Nolan4, Christine Phillips6
1ACT Government, Health Directorate, Canberra, Australia
2School of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
3School of Sociology, College of Arts and Social Science, The Australian National University , Canberra , Australia
4Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University , Canberra , Australia
5School of Archaeology and Anthropology, College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
6Social Foundations of Medicine, Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University , Canberra , Australia

Tóm tắt

Abstract Background During the summer of 2019/2020, Australia experienced a catastrophic wildfire season that affected nearly 80% of Australians either directly or indirectly. The impacts of climate crisis on perinatal health have only recently begun to receive attention. The objective of this study was to understand experiences of perinatal women during the bushfire and smoke events of 2019–2020 regarding health, health care, and public health messaging. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted by phone or web conferencing platforms with 43 participants living in the south-east of Australia who were either pregnant or who had recently had a baby during the 2019/2020 fires. Results The health impacts on participants of the fires, associated smoke, and evacuations for some, were both physical and psychological. Many participants sought information regarding how to protect their own health and that of their unborn/recently born children, but reported this difficult to find. Conclusions Pregnant women and new mothers exposed to bushfire events are a risk group for adverse physical and psychological outcomes. At the time of the 2019/2020 Australian bushfires, exposed women could not easily access evidence-based information to mitigate this risk. Family practitioners are well placed to provide pregnant women and new mothers with this sought-after information, but they need to be prepared well in advance of future similar events.

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Family Practice

Tập 40 Số 3

458-464

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