AMIHS

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• AMIHS
• Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service

Kristen Ella Eda Devoti
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What is AMIHS?

• 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)

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• 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

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• 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.

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AMIHS MHDAS

• Pilot project funded for 3 years commencing July
  2011
• 8 sites across NSW to employ MH DA 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 DA services to Aboriginal pregnant women at
  risk of MH and/or DA issues

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• 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

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Why is it important to have a Mental Health
Worker involved while pregnant?

• The unborn infant
• The risk factors for foetal brain development
  during pregnancy
• Potential Risks for mums and bubs

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Attachment

• 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

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Medication During Pregnancy

• 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
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