AMIHSAboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service

Kristen Ella & Eda Devoti

• Model of providing Antenatal Care within NSW Health to Aboriginal women in a more culturally safe way.

• Involves a • Community Midwife• Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW)

What is AMIHS?

• Provides a flexible service delivery model

• Engages women earlier in the pregnancy

• Is a primary health care model

• Aims to integrate within the Aboriginal Community to build trust and engagement

• To link Aboriginal women into antenatal care earlier in their pregnancy

• To reduce the number of premature infants born

• To increase the number of Aboriginal women who initiate breastfeeding with their infants

• To reduce the number of pregnant Aboriginal women who smoke.

• Pilot project funded for 3 years commencing July 2011

• 8 sites across NSW to employ MH & D&A workers and trainees on request to be co-located with the AMIHS midwives and Aboriginal Health Workers

• Focus on the provision of early intervention MH and D&A services to Aboriginal pregnant women at risk of MH and/or D&A issues

AMIHS – MHDAS

• Facilitate linking women into appropriate treatment services where there are MH and/or drug use issues

• Reduce the barriers to referrals into specialist MHDA services

• Develop strategies and programs that assist the women to focus on the parent – child relationship

• The unborn infant

• The risk factors for foetal brain development during pregnancy

• Potential Risks for mums and bubs

Why is it important to have a Mental Health Worker involved

while pregnant?

• Attachment between an infant and a primary caregiver(s) begins prior to birth

• Attachment is necessary for human survival

• Infants are born predisposed to social interaction

• The attachment relationship is built on the pattern of emotional interactions between an infant and a caregiver

Attachment

• Psychotropic/Antidepressant Medication

• Pros and Cons

 • Mothersafe - 1800 647 848 &

http://www.mothersafe.org.au/

• SwOPS - State-wide Outreach Perinatal MH Service

02 8821 4457 or 0417448314

 

Medication During Pregnancy