The Role and Nature of Universal Health Services for Pregnant Women, Children and Families in Australia: Literature Review

The purpose of this review of the literature was to explore and critique the evidence related to the role and effectiveness of universal health services for pregnant women, children and families, and to determine how well these services respond to the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable children and families. More specifically the review aimed to: Outline the role of the universal health services Describe what is known about the impact or effectiveness of services provided by midwives, child and family health nurses and general practitioners for disadvantaged and vulnerable children and families Explore factors that facilitate collaborative working Identify areas where further research is needed.