Care provided to women during and after a pregnancy complicated by hyperglycaemia: the impacts of a multi-component health systems intervention
Date
2025
Authors
MacKay, D.
Boyle, J.A.
Campbell, S.
Freeman, N.
McLean, A.
Hampton, D.
Whitbread, C.
Van Dokkum, P.
Murtha, K.
Connors, C.
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Journal article
Citation
The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific, 2025; 57:101514-1-101514-15
Statement of Responsibility
Diana MacKay, Jacqueline A. Boyle, Sandra Campbell, Natasha Freeman, Anna McLean, Denella Hampton, Cherie Whitbread, Paula Van Dokkum, Kirby Murtha, Christine Connors, Elizabeth Moore, Ashim Sinha, Yvonne Cadet-James, Sharni Cardona, Jeremy Oats, H David McIntyre, Anthony J. Hanley, Alex Brown, Jonathan E. Shaw, Renae Kirkham, Louise Maple-Brown
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Abstract
Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience a disproportionate burden of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy. A multi-component health systems intervention aiming to improve antenatal and postpartum care was implemented across Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) and Far North Queensland (FNQ) between 2016 and 2019. Components included clinician education, improving recall systems, enhancing policies and guidelines, and embedding Diabetes in Pregnancy (DIP) Clinical Registers in systems of care. This program was evaluated to determine impacts on clinical practice and maternal health. Methods Data for women with hyperglycaemia in pregnancy from primary care clinical records and the DIP Clinical Registers were analysed to assess changes in: antenatal and postpartum diabetes testing; HbA1c/glucose levels; medication use; weight checks performed, weight and body mass index; and postpartum contraception, smoking and breastfeeding. Findings Clinical practice in the NT improved, including increased uptake of the recommended first trimester 75 g oral glucose tolerance test among women with hyperglycaemia risk factors (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women 11.7% to 26.5%, p < 0.001; non-Indigenous women 6.2% to 19.3%, p < 0.001). In the NT, postpartum diabetes monitoring (56% to 68%, p = 0.039) and contraceptive use (41% to 60%, p = 0.001) increased among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. In FNQ, postpartum glucose monitoring increased among women with T2D (26% to 68% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, p = 0.002; 50% to 100% non-Indigenous, p = 0.008), although there were no improvements in antenatal care indicators. Interpretation Aspects of care for women with hyperglycaemia in pregnancy improved in the NT and FNQ following a multi-component health systems intervention.
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© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).