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Pregnancy and Birth Services in Rural Ontario

Endorsed in:

May, 2024

Paper Type:

Position Paper

Authors:

  • Claire Poulin

Background:

Living in rural locations can bring with it inherent difficulties that impact the social determinants of health. These determinants of health include income, educational attainment, food security, and access to healthcare. Rural areas across Northern Ontario have limited access to social and healthcare services, particularly obstetrical services, which can impact the health of both parents and their children. Many rural generalist physicians have the knowledge and skillset to deliver babies in low-risk obstetrical cases, but the access that they have to life-saving tools, trained teams, and equipment in our rural hospitals are limited. With the assistance of interdisciplinary health professionals such as midwives, we can support the goal that all women can start and continue to grow their families closer to home. As a society, we need to work towards a more inclusive version of healthcare to support pregnant persons to deliver as close to home as possible including supporting low-risk births in rural hospitals, the use of Traditional Medicines, and midwives within the birth plan. As we see more communities reduce their maternity services in Northern Ontario, the opportunity to collaborate with additional healthcare providers and experts should be of increasing priority to provide accessible and attainable care.

Recommendations:

The Ontario Medical Students Association recommends the following:

  • That faculties of medicine across Canada adopt curriculum changes to allow for representation of rural birthing experiences within medical education.
  • That the federal Ministry of Health endorse collaborative obstetrical care for expectant persons in Canada including the use of midwifery, Traditional Medicines and delivery of low-risk pregnancies in rural locations.
  • That Canadian medical students and practicing family/ rural generalist physicians advocate for additional and ongoing training to confidently provide obstetrical services.
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