Proportion of women who had the same health care provider for pregnancy and giving birth, Canada and the provinces/territories, 2006-2007
Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from Public Health Agency of Canada, Maternal Experiences Survey, 2006-2007. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/rhs-ssg/pdf/tab-eng.pdf -accessed July 24, 2017.
Just under half of Canadian women had the same care provider for pregnancy and giving birth in 2006/07.
That proportion varied between provinces and territories.
77% of all women in the Yukon had the same care provider – as did 58% in British Columbia and 56% in Nova Scotia.
Only 24% had the same care provider in Newfoundland & Labrador.
Implications
Having the same healthcare provider or a small group of health care providers throughout pregnancy, birth and into the postpartum period, known as continuity of care, is beneficial for mothers giving birth. For example, women who have continuity of care have been found to use fewer drugs for pain management during labour and birth. Women are also more satisfied with their care when they have continuity of care.1 In Canada, women report that continuity of care is important to them.2
1Hodnett E. Continuity of caregivers for care during pregnancy and childbirth (review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000.
2Public Health Agency of Canada. What Mothers Say: The Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey 2006-2007. Ottawa. 2009. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/rhs-ssg/pdf/tab-eng.pdf -accessed July 24, 2017.