"When I got the news": Aboriginal fathers in the Kimberley region yarning about their experience of the antenatal period.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Paternal involvement during the antenatal period is recognised as a positive contributor to a child's health and developmental outcomes. Little is known about Aboriginal Australian men's experiences and perceptions during their partner's antenatal period. METHODS: A qualitative yarning methodology was used to explore the experiences of ten Aboriginal Australian fathers during their partner's antenatal period, in a remote Northern Australian town. RESULTS: The study found the participants valued supporting their partners through pregnancy, making positive changes to their lifestyles, and having access to information on pregnancy. Participants described experiencing multiple stressors during the antenatal period that impacted on their social and emotional wellbeing. This is despite the range of protective factors identified by them. Participants had diverse experiences with health care providers during the antenatal period. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that these Aboriginal men valued engagement with antenatal care (ANC) services and highlighted strategies to improve Aboriginal paternal involvement with ANC services. SO WHAT?: Enhancing ANC to be inclusive of fathers, through a local co-design process, could strengthen and support Aboriginal families to achieve improved health and wellbeing outcomes across the family system.

Exploring Mental Health Presentations in Remote Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia Using an Audit and File Reviews.

The study aims to explore the role of mental health care in remote Aboriginal health services in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and provide a more nuanced understanding of the patients presenting for care, their needs, and the clinical response. Little is currently known about primary health care presentations for mental health, suicide, and self-harm for remote dwelling Aboriginal residents of the Kimberley region, despite high rates of psychological distress, self-harm, and suicide across the area. This study was progressed through a retrospective, cross-sectional audit of the electronic medical records system used by three remote clinics to explore the interactions recorded by the clinics about a patient's mental health. In addition, an in-depth file review was conducted on a stratified purposive sample of 30 patients identified through the audit. Mental ill-health and psychological distress were found to be prominent within clinical presentations. Psychosocial factors were frequently identified in relation to a patient's mental health presentation. Optimizing patients' recovery and wellness through service improvements, including an enhanced mental health model of care, is an important next step.