Mackay Base Hospital - Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies

Indicator 18: Do women make informed decisions about vaginal examinations? 11Gold standard care is defined as women feeling that they made an informed decision to have vaginal examinations (that is, thepros and cons were discussed and they decided from all their available options).We asked women who had at least one vaginal examination: “Did your maternity care provider(s) discuss with you the pros andcons (benefits and risks) of having and not having vaginal examinations?” and “Who made the decision to have or not havevaginal examinations?”The graph displays the percentage of women who said they made an informed decision to have vaginal examinations duringlabour.STATEWIDE PUBLIC13Mackay Base Hospital (n=37)19Mackay Birth Centre (n=1)Insufficient dataProserpine Hospital (n=16)0STATEWIDE PRIVATE10Mater Misericordiae Hospital Mackay (n=42)50 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100Best public hospital in Queensland:Caboolture Hospital 25%Best public birth centre in Queensland:Royal Brisbane and Women’s Birth Centre 40%Best private hospital in Queensland:John Flynn Private Hospital 21%What do women say about their care?“After I gave birth…the midwife completely violated mypersonal space prodding the entrance to my vaginawith her finger apparently to see whether I had torn ornot, causing me extreme pain since I just gave birthout of there, also minor grazing. She told me what shewas doing just as she touched me so I couldn't sayno.”“Women should be more informed of their choices bymedical care providers. Once women make an informeddecision this should be respected and encouraged.”11Insufficient data for Atherton Hospital, Biloela Hospital, Emerald Hospital, Gold Coast Birth Centre, Goondiwindi Hospital, Gympie Hospital,Innisfail Hospital, Longreach Hospital, Mackay Birth Centre, Mareeba Hospital, Stanthorpe Hospital, Townsville Birth Centre and WarwickHospital.35