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Young people comprise a significant proportion of migrants and refugees in Australia. Many encounter challenges in accessing contraception information and services. This study explored the views and experiences of young women from migrant and/or refugee backgrounds regarding the contraceptive implant and related decision-making. Interviews were conducted with 33 women, aged 15-24, living in New South Wales, Australia, who spoke a language other than English and had some experience of the implant. Three themes were developed from the data as follows: 'Finding your own path': contraception decision-making (in which participants described sex and contraception as being taboo in their community, yet still made independent contraceptive choices); Accessing 'trustworthy' contraception information and navigating services (in which participants consulted online resources and social media for contraception information, and preferred discussions with healthcare providers from outside their community); and Views and experiences of the contraceptive implant (while the implant was described as a 'Western' method, most participants regarded it as an acceptable, convenient, cost-effective, and confidential means of contraception). Decision-making regarding the implant is influenced by many factors which must be considered in health promotion efforts and when providing clinical care. Consideration of more informative health promotion resources, peer education strategies, and healthcare provider training is warranted to support contraception decision-making and choice.

Objectives: To explore Australian general practitioners' views and experiences of undertaking postpartum contraception counselling and provision during the 6-8-week postnatal check., Study Design: Qualitative-descriptive study; semi-structured online interviews., Participants, Setting: General practitioners who provide postnatal care in Australian primary health care, recruited using purposive, convenience, and snowball methods, 16 June - 6 July 2023., Main Outcome Measures: Views and experiences of postpartum contraception counselling and provision., Results: Twenty-three general practitioners from six states were interviewed; the mean interview time was 30 minutes (range, 21-47 minutes), twenty-two participants were women, and twenty-one worked in metropolitan areas. All participants provide postnatal checks and had the training and facilities needed for providing contraceptive implant insertions. Twelve participants had training in intrauterine device (IUD) insertion, and twenty-one worked in practices with facilities for IUD insertions. Three themes were constructed: views and preferences regarding postnatal contraception counselling; postpartum provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC); and opportunities for improving postpartum contraception care in general practice. While most participants recommended LARC methods at postnatal checks, only twelve were trained to insert IUDs. Time constraints, limited access to training, limited financial support, and the lack of guidelines for postnatal checks and contraception care were seen as impeding postpartum contraception counselling. Participants highlighted the importance of access to education and training, appropriate remuneration for general practitioners, multidisciplinary collaboration among health professionals, the inclusion of practice nurses, and raising awareness among mothers of the importance of postnatal checks and postpartum contraception care., Conclusion: General practitioners are well placed to facilitate discussions about contraception with women who have recently given birth. Postpartum contraception care in general practice could be improved by better access to contraception training, appropriate remuneration for contraception procedures, greater multidisciplinary collaboration, and national postnatal check and postpartum contraception guidelines., (© 2024 The Author(s). Medical Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of AMPCo Pty Ltd.)

Objective: To assess whether an online educational video, tailored to young women living in rural and remote areas, increases their contraceptive knowledge, preference for and uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)., Study Design: A single group pre-post survey design, in which participants completed the pre-video survey (S1), watched the 13-min video, then completed a survey immediately after (S2) and 6  months later (S3). Outcomes were analysed using McNemar tests and multivariate logistic regression., Results: A total of 153 participants watched the video and completed S1 and S2; 56 % of these completed S3. Prevideo (S1) 33 % of participants were unaware of LARC methods. Only 3 % rated their knowledge about every method as high. Knowledge improved immediately post video (S2) for all methods (aOR 12.5, 95 % CI 5.2 to 29.8) and LARC methods (aOR 7.9, 95 % CI 4.3 to 11.8). Overall method preference for LARC increased from 23.5 % (n = 36) at S1 to 48 % (n = 74) at S2. Likelihood of using a LARC increased at S2 (aOR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.5 to 2.9). The overall proportion of participants using a LARC increased from 18 % at S1 to 21 % at S3, however, this increase was not significant (p = 0.3)., Conclusion: Our findings underscore the effectiveness of tailored online educational videos in enhancing contraceptive knowledge and preference for LARCs amongst young women living in rural and remote areas. However preference did not translate into uptake, suggesting that structural and other barriers may be prominent., Implications: This study emphasises the need for a multifaceted approach to facilitating young womens' access to effective methods of contraception, including LARC. Efforts to promote knowledge should be coordinated with place-based initiatives and policies that directly address the structural barriers to accessing critical sexual and reproductive health services unique to women in rural and remote areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To synthesise and map current evidence on nurse and midwife involvement in task-sharing service delivery, including both face-to-face and telehealth models, in primary care., Design: This scoping review was informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Methodology for Scoping Reviews., Data Source/review Methods: Five databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to 16 January 2024, and articles were screened for inclusion in Covidence by three authors. Findings were mapped according to the research questions and review outcomes such as characteristics of models, health and economic outcomes, and the feasibility and acceptability of nurse-led models., Results: One hundred peer-reviewed articles (as 99 studies) were deemed eligible for inclusion. Task-sharing models existed for a range of conditions, particularly diabetes and hypertension. Nurse-led models allowed nurses to work to the extent of their practice scope, were acceptable to patients and providers, and improved health outcomes. Models can be cost-effective, and increase system efficiencies with supportive training, clinical set-up and regulatory systems. Some limitations to telehealth models are described, including technological issues, time burden and concerns around accessibility for patients with lower technological literacy., Conclusion: Nurse-led models can improve health, economic and service delivery outcomes in primary care and are acceptable to patients and providers. Appropriate training, funding and regulatory systems are essential for task-sharing models with nurses to be feasible and effective., Impact: Nurse-led models are one strategy to improve health equity and access; however, there is a scarcity of literature on what these models look like and how they work in the primary care setting. Evidence suggests these models can also improve health outcomes, are perceived to be feasible and acceptable, and can be cost-effective. Increased utilisation of nurse-led models should be considered to address health system challenges and improve access to essential primary healthcare services globally., Reporting Method: This review is reported against the PRISMA-ScR criteria., Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution., Protocol Registration: The study protocol is published in BJGP Open (Moulton et al., 2022)., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Young Australian women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds are vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy. We aimed to assess whether an online educational video, co-designed with young CALD women, can increase their contraceptive knowledge, preference for and uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)., Methods: Online advertising was used to recruit young CALD women aged 16-25 years. Participants completed the pre-video survey (S1), watched the 13-min co-designed video, then completed a survey immediately afterwards (S2) and 6 months later (S3). Outcomes were analysed using McNemar tests and multivariate logistic regression., Results: A total of 160 participants watched the video, completed S1 and S2, and 57% of those completed S3. At S1 only 14% rated their knowledge about every contraceptive method as high. Knowledge improved at S2 for all methods (aOR 3.2, 95% CI 2.0 to 5.0) and LARC (aOR 4.7, 95% CI 2.9 to 7.5). Overall method preference for LARC increased from 2.5% (n=4) at S1 to 51% (n=82) at S2. Likelihood of using a LARC increased at S2 (aOR 3.8, 95% CI 2.6 to 5.6). The overall proportion of participants using a LARC increased from 8% at S1 to 11% at S3; however, this increase was not significant (p=0.7)., Conclusions: The significant increase in knowledge, likelihood of use, and preference for LARC underscores the potential of online video-based contraceptive education to address contraceptive knowledge gaps and challenge misconceptions about LARC held by young women. Combining contraceptive education with supports to LARC access is crucial for empowering young CALD women to make informed contraceptive decisions., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Documenting medical and lifestyle preconception health risk factors in electronic medical records (EMRs) could assist general practitioners (GPs) to identify those reproductive-aged women who could most benefit from preconception care (PCC). However, it is unclear to what extent PCC risk factors are identifiable in general practice records. This study aimed to determine the extent to which medical and lifestyle preconception health risk factors are documented in general practice EMRs., Methods: We conducted an audit of the documentation of medical and lifestyle preconception risk factors in 10 general practice EMRs in Melbourne, Australia. We retrospectively analysed the EMRs of 100 consecutive women aged 18-44 years who visited each practice between January and September 2022. Using a template informed by PCC guidelines, we extracted data from structured fields in the EMR and conducted a descriptive analysis., Results: Among the data extracted, the more commonly documented medical and lifestyle preconception health risk factors in the EMRs included smoking (79%), blood pressure (74%), alcohol consumption (63%) and body mass index (57%). Among the women audited, 14% were smokers, 24% were obese, 7% had high blood pressure, 5% had diabetes, 28% had a mental health condition, 13% had asthma, 6% had thyroid disease and 17% had been prescribed and could be using a potentially teratogenic medication., Conclusions: Better documentation of medical and lifestyle preconception health risk factors in structured fields in EMRs may potentially assist primary care providers including GPs in identifying and providing PCC to women who could most benefit from it., Competing Interests: Competing interest: Professor Danielle Mazza is an editorial advisory board member for BMJ SRH., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aim: To describe key features of a co-designed nurse-led model of care intended to improve access to early medication abortion and long-acting reversible contraception in rural Australian general practice., Design: Co-design methodology informed by the Experience-Based Co-Design Framework., Methods: Consumers, nurses, physicians and key women's health stakeholders participated in a co-design workshop focused on the patient journey in seeking contraception or abortion care. Data generated at the workshop were analysed using Braun and Clarkes' six-step process for thematic analysis., Results: Fifty-two participants took part in the co-design workshop. Key recommendations regarding setting up the model included: raising awareness of the early medication abortion and contraceptive implant services, providing flexible booking options, ensuring appointment availability, providing training for reception staff and fostering good relationships with relevant local services. Recommendations for implementing the model were also identified, including the provision of accessible information, patient-approved communication processes that ensure privacy and safety, establishing roles and responsibilities, supporting consumer autonomy and having clear pathways for referrals and complications., Conclusion: Our approach to experience-based co-design ensured that consumer experiences, values and priorities, together with practitioner insights, were central to the development of a nurse-led model of care., Implications for the Profession And/or Patient Care: The co-designed nurse-led model of care for contraception and medication abortion is one strategy to increase access to these essential reproductive health services, particularly in rural areas, while providing an opportunity for nurses to work to their full scope of practice., Impact: Nurse-led care has gained global recognition as an effective strategy to promote equitable access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. Still, nurse-led contraception and abortion have yet to be implemented andevaluated in Australian general practice. This study will inform the model of care to be implemented and evaluated as part of the ORIENT trial to be completed in 2025., Reporting Method: Reported in line with the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist., Patient or Public Contribution: Two consumer representatives contributed to the development of the co-design methodology as members of the ORIENT Intervention Advisory Group Governance Committee., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In Australia, 20% of pregnancies occur within the first year after birth and most are unintended. Both unintended pregnancies and short interpregnancy intervals (<12-18months) can have adverse effects on maternal, infant, and child health. Access to postpartum contraception reduces the risk of unintended pregnancies and short interpregnancy intervals, and supports women in pregnancy planning and birth spacing. In this forum article, we describe how postpartum contraception is currently provided in Australia and highlight opportunities for improving access in the primary care setting.

Introduction: Reproductive coercion (RC) describes behaviours that interfere with an individual's reproductive autonomy and decision-making. RC can be a form of intimate partner violence and overlaps with other forms of gender-based violence, such as sexual violence. Health settings are well placed to identify and intervene to support patients experiencing RC, however, the lack of conceptual clarity on RC means that health providers are not easily able to identify those at risk of experiencing RC. To facilitate appropriate identification and development of interventions, there is a need to understand the risk factors related to experiencing RC and associated health consequences., Aim: To assess the current scope of evidence in relation to risk factors and health consequences of experiencing RC., Methods and Analysis: Eligible articles for inclusion in the scoping review will be original peer-reviewed literature that describe risk factors and health consequences of any type of RC. Studies on humans published in English since 2010 will be included. The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI Methodology. This protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Five electronic databases, OVID Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, PsychINFO and Embase, will be searched for relevant literature from 1 January 2010 to 23 January 2023. Two reviewers will individually screen and review articles for eligibility, and conflicts will be resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be charted and reported using a tool developed for the purpose of this review., Ethics and Dissemination: Findings will be disseminated in publications and presentations to relevant stakeholders. Ethical approval is not required as data from publicly available literature sources will be used. Available evidence will be mapped across the breadth of eligible studies to identify associated risk factors and health consequences of RC., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Preconception care (PCC) is effective in reducing modifiable risk factors and optimising maternal health. Primary care services such as general practices in Australia are an appropriate setting to provide PCC. However, PCC is not routinely provided in most of these settings, and many reproductive-aged women and men are not aware of the need for PCC. In this forum article, we discuss the factors that hinder PCC provision in Australian general practices and make recommendations on how access to PCC services can be broadened in Australia, including the potential opportunity for general practice nurses to contribute to the provision of PCC.

Background: Access to publiclyfunded abortion in Australia is limited, with a considerable proportion carried out by private providers. There are no nationally reported data on public abortion services, and referral pathways are poorly coordinated between hospital and primary care sectors. HealthPathways is an online system for use in primary care that provides information on referral pathways to local services. The aim of this study was to describe abortion referral pathways for each HealthPathways portal in Australia., Methods: A review of Australian HealthPathways content on abortion was undertaken between January and June 2022. For each HealthPathways portal, data were extracted on referral options to abortion services., Results: Overall, 17 out of 34 Australian HealthPathways consented to be included. Nearly half (47%) had no public services listed for surgical abortion, and 35% had no public services for medical abortion. The majority (64% for surgical abortion, 67% for medical abortion) emphasised that public services should be considered only as a last resort. There was variation in information regarding gestation-specific options, the time-critical nature of referrals, and the importance of women's own preference when deciding between medical or surgical abortion., Conclusion: Despite few remaining legal restrictions to abortion, many regions across Australia either do not have public abortion services or do not provide information about them. There is an urgent need for transparency around public abortion service availability, clear guidelines to support referral pathways, and commitment from State and Federal governments to expand the availability of accessible, no-cost abortion in Australia.

Access to postpartum contraception is critical for the health of the mother and subsequent pregnancies. However, the differential roles and responsibilities of maternity care providers in contraception discussions and provision are often unclear. Our study, part of a larger study on midwifery provision of contraceptive implants, presents the perspectives of hospital-based maternity clinicians. Participants suggested that contraception discussions and provision are a shared responsibility of maternity care providers but identified inconsistencies and issues with current approaches. Access to contraception could be improved through more routine discussions antenatally and postnatally and greater collaboration between maternity care providers in hospital, community and primary care settings., (© 2022 The Authors. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.)

Background: Nearly half of women experience unintended pregnancies. These are associated with increased risk of poor maternal physical and psychosocial health outcomes. Many pregnancies in the first year postpartum are unintended, further increasing risks of poor outcomes and complications. We undertook a qualitative evidence synthesis to evaluate qualitative research on women's views and preferences for accessing postpartum contraception, and identify evidence gaps and opportunities for postpartum contraception provision., Methods: Five databases were searched to identify relevant qualitative studies. Included studies focused on views of, and preferences for, accessing postpartum contraception for women of reproductive age in high-income countries., Results: Of 1854 studies identified, 28 full texts were assessed and 19 studies included. These were critically appraised using Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE-CERQual) and analysed using thematic synthesis. Included studies indicated the majority of women desire postpartum contraception, but face a range of financial, health system and personal barriers. Women felt unclear about the ideal interpregnancy interval (IPI) and the rationale for this. Women preferred contraceptive counselling at varying times both antenatally and postnatally, and commonly preferred to receive contraception in the immediate postpartum period before hospital discharge. Women commonly saw their obstetrician or general practitioner for contraceptive counselling, but welcomed midwifery involvement., Conclusions: Most women were interested in postpartum contraception and pregnancy spacing, but felt unclear about the optimal IPI, highlighting the need for further education and support around this issue. Contraceptive counselling was viewed as valuable antenatally and postnatally, and by varying maternal health providers, as was the provision of immediate postpartum contraception., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Women living in rural and regional Australia often experience difficulties in accessing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) and medical abortion services. Nurse-led models of care can improve access to these services but have not been evaluated in Australian general practice. The primary aim of the ORIENT trial (ImprOving Rural and regIonal accEss to long acting reversible contraceptioN and medical abortion through nurse-led models of care, Tasksharing and telehealth) is to assess the effectiveness of a nurse-led model of care in general practice at increasing uptake of LARC and improving access to medical abortion in rural and regional areas., Methods and Analysis: ORIENT is a stepped-wedge pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial. We will enrol 32 general practices (clusters) in rural or regional Australia, that have at least two general practitioners, one practice nurse and one practice manager. The nurse-led model of care (the intervention) will be codesigned with key women's health stakeholders. Clusters will be randomised to implement the model sequentially, with the comparator being usual care. Clusters will receive implementation support through clinical upskilling, educational outreach and engagement in an online community of practice. The primary outcome is the change in the rate of LARC prescribing comparing control and intervention phases; secondary outcomes include change in the rate of medical abortion prescribing and provision of related telehealth services. A within-trial economic analysis will determine the relative costs and benefits of the model on the prescribing rates of LARC and medical abortion compared with usual care. A realist evaluation will provide contextual information regarding model implementation informing considerations for scale-up. Supporting nurses to work to their full scope of practice has the potential to increase LARC and medical abortion access in rural and regional Australia., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethics approval was obtained from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID: 29476). Findings will be disseminated via multiple avenues including a knowledge exchange workshop, policy briefs, conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications., Trial Registration Number: This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12622000086763)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: DM has received research and conference attendance funding, speaker fees and been an advisory board member for Bayer, Organon and MSD. DB has provided education for doctors sponsored by Bayer and Organon and has been an advisory board member for Bayer, Organon and MSD. DB has never received personal remuneration for these services. During this study WVN was a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Family Planning. She receives family planning research grants from Canadian and UK governments and not for profit associations, none of which are related to this project., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Reproductive coercion refers to behaviour that interferes with a person's reproductive autonomy, such as contraceptive sabotage, pregnancy coercion, controlling a pregnancy outcome or forced sterilisation. Routine screening for reproductive coercion, together with clinician education, was implemented at a family planning service in New South Wales, Australia, in December 2018. A study was undertaken to explore the views and experiences of clinicians in undertaking reproductive coercion screening at this service., Methods: Clinicians were invited to complete an online survey and interview to discuss their understanding of reproductive coercion and their views and experiences of undertaking reproductive coercion screening. Descriptive and thematic content analysis was conducted., Results: Clinicians deemed reproductive coercion screening to be relevant and important in family planning services. Key barriers to reproductive coercion screening and responding to disclosures included time constraints and limited appropriate referral pathways. Ongoing education and training with resources such as a decision-support tool on reproductive coercion screening and management, as well as effective multi-disciplinary collaboration, were identified as strategies to improve the screening program., Conclusions: Findings from our study highlight that clinicians' perceived reproductive coercion screening as a relevant and important component of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Ongoing reproductive coercion education, training and support would ensure the competency and confidence of clinicians undertaking screening. Identifying appropriate referral pathways with multi-disciplinary collaboration (involving clinicians, social workers, support workers and psychologists) would support clinicians in undertaking screening and responding to disclosures of reproductive coercion in Australian health care settings which provide family planning and sexual and reproductive health services.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) young people seek information and access health services for their sexual health needs. This study examined Aboriginal young people's perspectives on sexual health services and sex education in Australia. Overall, 51 Aboriginal people aged 16-26 years were interviewed by peer researchers in Sydney, Australia in 2019-2020. The findings suggest that the internet was used to assess information quickly and confidentially, but Aboriginal young people questioned its reliability and accuracy. Family, Elders and peers were seen as sources of advice because they had real-life experience and highlighted intergenerational learning that occurs in Aboriginal communities. School-based sex education programmes had mixed reviews, with a preference for programmes delivered by external specialists providing anonymity, clear and accurate information about sex and relationships and positive approaches to sex education, including how to gain consent before sex. There was a need identified for school-based programmes to better consider the needs of Aboriginal young people, including those who identified as LGBTQI + . Aboriginal Medical Services were highly valued for providing culturally safe access to services, while sexual health clinics were valued for providing specialised confidential clinical services with low levels of judgement.

Background: Primary care-based preconception care (PCC) has the potential to improve pregnancy outcomes, but the effectiveness is unclear., Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of primary care-based PCC delivered to reproductive-aged females and/or males to improve health knowledge, reduce preconception risk factors, and improve pregnancy outcomes., Design and Setting: A systematic review of primary care-based PCC., Method: Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published between July 1999 and May 2021. Two reviewers independently evaluated article eligibility and quality., Results: Twenty-eight articles reporting on 22 RCTs were included. All but one focused on females. Interventions included brief education (single session) ( n = 8), intensive education (multiple sessions) ( n = 9), supplementary medication ( n = 7), and dietary modification ( n = 4). Brief education improved health knowledge in females ( n = 3) and males ( n = 1), reduced alcohol/tobacco consumption ( n = 2), and increased folate intake ( n = 3). Intensive education reduced spontaneous pregnancy loss ( n = 1), alcohol-exposed pregnancies ( n = 2), and increased physical activity ( n = 2). Supplementary medication increased folate intake ( n = 4) and dietary modification reduced pre-eclampsia ( n = 1) and increased birth weight ( n = 1). Only eight articles reported on pregnancy outcomes, with a range of interventions used; of these, four reported improvements in pregnancy outcomes. Most RCTs were of low quality ( n = 12)., Conclusion: Primary care-based PCC including brief and intensive education, supplementary medication, and dietary modification are effective in improving health knowledge and reducing preconception risk factors in females, although there is limited evidence for males. Further research is required to determine whether primary care-based PCC can improve pregnancy outcomes., (© The Authors.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Effective contraception can prevent unintended pregnancies, however there is an unmet need for effective contraception in Australia. Despite their being a range of contraceptive methods available, access to these remains equitable and uptake of the most effective methods is low. There is an opportunity to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies in Australia by improving the uptake of effective contraception for those who desire this. Improving access will require increasing consumer health literacy about contraception, as well as the option of telehealth as a mode of service delivery, and stronger investment in contraceptive services through appropriate reimbursement for providers. There is also a need to test new models of care to increase access to and use of effective contraception in Australia, including nurse and midwifery-led models of contraceptive care and pharmacy involvement in contraceptive counseling., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Repeat pregnancy in the first year after a birth is common. Many of these conceptions are unintended and may be prevented by providing access to contraception in the immediate postpartum period. Midwives in the hospital setting could potentially play a greater role in improving postnatal contraception information and provision., Aim: We sought to implement and examine the success of a program training hospital-based midwives in immediate postpartum implant insertion., Methods: This mixed methods study in two hospitals in New South Wales sought to explore the feasibility, acceptability and sustainability of a program that provided competency-based implant insertion training for midwives. The study documented training completion, implant insertion numbers and experience, and conducted end of study interviews with midwives and stakeholders., Findings: Twenty-seven midwives undertook training and inserted 265 implants during the study period. Interviews with 13 midwives and 11 stakeholders concluded the program to be feasible and acceptable with midwives reporting high satisfaction from their involvement. All interviewees felt that midwives were well placed to insert implants, and reported that challenges around workload and opportunities for practice were generally manageable. It was recognised that sustainability of the program would require supportive policy and regular insertion opportunities., Conclusions: Midwives successfully upskilled in implant insertions and there was widespread support for the program with expectations it would be sustained. Provision of contraceptive information and implant insertion by midwives in the immediate postpartum period is likely to increase contraceptive choice and access for women and contribute to reducing rapid repeat pregnancies., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pregnancy outcomes can be adversely affected by a range of modifiable risk factors, including alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, drug use, and poor nutrition, during the preconception period. Preconception care (PCC) involves interventions that identify and seek to change behavioural, biomedical, and social risks present in reproductive-aged women and men. Primary care is well situated to offer PCC interventions but the effectiveness of these interventions is not clear., Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of primary care-based PCC delivered to reproductive-aged women and/or men to improve health knowledge, reduce preconception risk factors, and improve pregnancy outcomes., Design & Setting: A systematic review of primary care-based PCC., Method: Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases will be searched for English language studies published between July 1999 and May 2021. For inclusion, the PCC intervention must be provided in a primary care setting and intervention recipients must be reproductive-aged women and/or men. All stages of screening and data extraction will involve a dual review. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) will be used to assess the methodological quality of studies. This protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) reporting guidelines., Conclusion: Findings will determine the effectiveness of primary care-based preconception interventions delivered to reproductive-aged women and men on improving health knowledge, reducing risk factors, and improving pregnancy outcomes. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal., (Copyright © 2022, The Authors.)

Objectives: The National Cervical Screening Program was renewed in Australia from 1 December 2017, with the introduction of 5-yearly human papilloma virus (HPV) screening from age 25, and the release of updated national screening guidelines. This study aimed to determine health professional knowledge of the renewed screening program following implementation., Methods: We invited health professionals providing cervical screening in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, to complete an online survey in late 2018, to better understand their knowledge of the renewed screening guidelines, in particular regarding screening of specific populations, and to ascertain whether they had undertaken any educational activities relevant to the renewal., Results: A total of 241 responses were included in the data analysis. Health professionals demonstrated good knowledge of some aspects of the renewed program, including 64-85% correctly identifying limited indications for testing people younger than 25 years, 87% correctly identifying the need for completion of the Test of Cure protocol following treatment of high-grade lesions, and 71-80% correctly identifying management of symptomatic women. However several key knowledge gaps were identified including management of immune-deficient women (only 37% of respondents were aware of the need for 3-yearly screening), screening after total hysterectomy (56% were aware of guidance) and approximately 66% of health professionals correctly identifying indications for self-collected screening. One in ten health professionals had not undertaken any education specific to the renewal of the program. We found significant associations between knowledge levels and practitioner characteristics, including practitioners' frequency of access to the guidelines, specific educational activities undertaken and geographic location., Conclusion: Health professionals demonstrated strong knowledge of key aspects of the renewed National Cervical Screening program. However, our findings highlight some important gaps that may impact successful delivery of the program in Australia, and some significant associations between practitioner characteristics and knowledge levels, which will be important for education providers to note. Targeted educational interventions informed by these findings could support health professionals to better translate guidelines into practice and ensure successful delivery of this important public health program, particularly in regard to management of immune-deficient women, screening after hysterectomy and indications for self-collected screening., Competing Interests: DB is a member of the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) Quality and Safety Monitoring Committee and Clinical Expert Panel; she was a co-author of sections of the NCSP Guidelines. Family Planning NSW delivers cervical screening education to health professionals.

Background: The female condom is a barrier method for the prevention of sexually transmissible infections and unintended pregnancy. Uptake of this method remains low in Australia, although little research has been undertaken to explore this., Methods: An interventional cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2019 to explore the views and experiences of women in New South Wales. After trying the female condom, they were invited to complete an online survey and/or structured interview. Training in the use of the female condom was not provided. This paper reports on qualitative findings from open-ended survey responses and interviews., Results: In total, 284 participants completed the survey and 20 participated in an interview. Most were aware of the female condom prior to participating in the study, but few had used it previously. Four broad themes were identified from the data: (i) accessibility of the female condom, including cost and availability, (ii) supporting choice in different circumstances, (iii) aspects of empowerment and control and (iv) use of gendered language., Conclusions: The female condom may be an acceptable option for many women in Australia. To support the choice of method and promote uptake, it will be important to increase the accessibility of the female condom by raising awareness and addressing the issues of cost and availability. Further exploration of issues regarding inclusive language and messaging in health promotion campaigns and marketing is warranted to ensure that this product is accessible for all people who may wish to use it, regardless of gender or sexuality. Similar research could be undertaken with men/partners and members of the LGBTQ+ community to explore their perspectives of the female condom. SO WHAT?: To support contraceptive choice and promote the uptake of the female condom for those who desire this method, it will be important to address the issues of cost and availability. Accessibility will also be enhanced through the consideration of inclusive language and messaging in health promotion campaigns and marketing of the female condom., (© 2021 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Background Reproductive coercion (RC) occurs when a person's autonomous decision-making regarding reproductive health is compromised by another. RC screening, that is, the use of routine, non-invasive screening questions asked of service users/clients, is one strategy that can be used to assess for RC. Routine screening for RC was implemented within Family Planning NSW clinical consultations in December 2018. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to review the outcomes of screening to better understand the situation of RC among women accessing family planning services. Methods A retrospective review of clinical consultation data of eligible women attending Family Planning NSW clinics in 2019 was undertaken. Descriptive analysis was conducted and modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios and assess associations between binary outcomes and client characteristics. Results Of 7943 women eligible for RC screening, 5497 were screened (69%) and 127 women (2.3%) disclosed RC. RC was more likely to be disclosed among clients who were unemployed, had a disability or had more than one visit within 1 year. Conclusions Sexual and reproductive health clinicians, in particular, are well placed to conduct RC screening. However, they must have adequate training and access to resources to implement screening and respond to women who disclose RC.

Although vasectomy is a safe and highly effective method of contraception, uptake is variable globally, with scope for increased engagement in high income nations. Very little qualitative research has been published in recent years to explore men's perspectives on vasectomy, which represents a key opportunity to better understand and strengthen men's contribution to reproductive and contraception equality. This paper takes a scoping review approach to identify key findings from the small but important body of qualitative literature. Recent masculinities research argues that, despite some expansion in ways of being masculine, an underpinning ethos of masculinist dominance remains. Extant research on men's attitudes to vasectomy supports this ambivalent picture, indicating that while there are extending repertoires of masculinity for men to draw on in making sense of vasectomy, many remain underpinned by masculinist narratives. There remains scope for education and health promotion ensuring vasectomy is viewed as a suitable and safe option by more men of reproductive age. Increased uptake of vasectomy may also help shift the longstanding social expectation that women take primary responsibility for contraceptive practices, challenging gender discourses on contraception.

Health research concerning Indigenous peoples has been strongly characterised by deficit discourse-a 'mode of thinking' that is overly focused on risk behaviours and problems. Strengths-based approaches offer a different perspective by promoting a set of values that recognise the capacities and capabilities of Indigenous peoples. In this article, we seek to understand the conceptual basis of strengths-based approaches as currently presented in health research. We propose that three main approaches exist: 'resilience' approaches concerned with the personal skills of individuals; 'social-ecological' approaches, which focus on the individual, community and structural aspects of a person's environment; and 'sociocultural' approaches, which view 'strengths' as social relations, collective identities and practices. We suggest that neither 'resilience' nor 'social-ecological' approaches sufficiently problematise deficit discourse because they remain largely informed by Western concepts of individualised rationality and, as a result, rest on logics that support notions of absence and deficit. In contrast, sociocultural approaches tend to view 'strengths' not as qualities possessed by individuals, but as the structure and character of social relations, collective practices and identities. As such, they are better able to capture Indigenous ways of knowing and being and provide a stronger basis on which to build meaningful interventions., (© 2021 Foundation for Sociology of Health & Illness.)

Issue Addressed: In response to high rates of gender-based violence and poor sexual and reproductive health indicators in Timor-Leste, a 'Men's Health Project' was implemented in two rural communities in 2013. A peer education model was utilised to engage men in issues regarding health, relationships and well-being., Methods: Community-based baseline and endline surveys were undertaken to evaluate the project in the two communities., Results: In 2013, 401 men and boys completed a baseline survey, and 400 completed an endline survey in 2016. Significant differences were found in a number of areas, with more men in the endline survey aware of the negative impacts of alcohol, safe pregnancy practices, family planning and sexually transmitted infections. Many men reported making the major decisions in their family in both surveys., Conclusions: The peer education approach engaged men in health awareness and contributed to increasing knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and other health issues. However, while education and positive attitudes are an important foundation for change, other enabling mechanisms including vital infrastructure, services and health personnel must be in place to facilitate change and increase access to information and healthcare. Findings highlight the importance of engaging both women and men in processes of challenging behaviours and structures that reinforce gender inequalities. SO WHAT?: Peer education appears to be an effective model for engaging community members in gender and health issues in Timor-Leste. The Men's Health Project enabled men to participate in health awareness and issues regarding health, relationships and well-being., (© 2020 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Background: The female condom is the only female-initiated form of protection against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). However, use of this method in Australia is low. To better understand women's views and experiences of the female condom, we conducted an interventional cross-sectional study., Methods: Cisgender women ≥16 years, heterosexually active and living in New South Wales were recruited through social media advertisements and email invitations to clients of a family planning service. Eligible participants were provided with three female condoms and invited to complete a follow-up survey. Survey responses for women who attempted to use at least one female condom were summarised using counts and proportions., Results: We recruited 556 women; few (30/556) had used the female condom before the study. There were 284 women who used, or attempted to use, a female condom during the study and completed the follow-up survey. Fifty-one percent (104/205) reported experiencing some difficulty in insertion, although only 46% (130/284) had seen an instructional demonstration. Approximately half (105/204) of women rated the sensation and comfort of the female condom as the same or better than the male condom, and 66% (137/204) reported that it provided the same or better lubrication. Approximately half of women said they would consider using the female condom again for STI prevention (51% (133/260)) or contraception (40% (103/260)), or would recommend to others (43% (112/260))., Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for increased health promotion and education regarding use of the female condom. To increase access it will be important to address method cost and availability in Australia. Future research should explore other perspectives of this method, including among the LGBTIQ+ community., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Women are susceptible to unintended pregnancies in the first year after giving birth, particularly as consideration of contraception may be a low priority during this time. Discussing and providing contraception before women leave hospital after giving birth may prevent rapid repeat pregnancy and its associated risks. Midwives are well placed to assist with contraceptive decision-making and provision; however, this is not routinely undertaken by midwives in the Australian hospital setting and little is known regarding their views and experiences in relation to contraception., Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted with midwives at two urban hospitals in New South Wales to better understand their contraceptive knowledge, views and practices regarding midwifery-led contraception provision in the postpartum period., Findings: The survey was completed by 128 midwives. Most agreed that information about contraception provided in the postpartum period is valuable to women, although their knowledge about different methods was variable. The majority (88%) believed that midwives have a role in providing contraceptive information, and 79% reported currently providing contraceptive counselling. However, only 14% had received formal training in this area., Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that most midwives provide some contraception information and believe this is an important part of a midwife's role. Yet most have not undertaken formal training in contraception. Additional research is needed to explore the content and quality of midwives' contraception discussions with women. Training midwives in contraceptive counselling would ensure women receive accurate information about available options. Upskilling midwives in contraception provision may increase postpartum uptake and reduce rapid repeat pregnancies., (Copyright © 2020 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

From 1 December 2017, the National Cervical Screening Program was renewed in Australia, with updated national cervical screening guidelines released. This study was performed to determine clinicians' familiarity with the updated guidelines and explore their views and attitudes towards the renewed program. Clinicians providing cervical screening in New South Wales, Australia, were invited to complete an online survey in 2018. Of the 241 clinicians who responded, 91.5% supported the change to 5-yearly human papillomavirus screening from the age of 25 years. However, nearly 13% indicated they did not know where to access the renewed guidelines and 37% had never or rarely accessed them. Open-ended responses highlighted clinicians' concerns about missed cancers and missed opportunities for health checks. Those raising these concerns accessed the guidelines less frequently. The findings highlight important areas for additional education and support for clinicians in translating guidelines into practice to ensure successful delivery of the renewed program.

Issue Addressed: Australia's national cervical screening program has reduced rates of cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. However, these benefits have not been experienced by all women. A Cervical Cancer Screening Project was implemented with lay health educators to address inequitable screening access by women experiencing socio-economic disadvantage., Methods: Resources and a training program were developed and piloted with the specialist homelessness services workforce in Sydney, NSW. Data was collected to inform their development and evaluation through interviews, focus groups, self-administered surveys and analysis of NSW Pap Test Register data., Results: Women reported low familiarity with the term 'cervical screening'. They identified a good patient-doctor relationship, and seeing a female practitioner, as screening enablers. While the majority reported having cervical screening before, NSW Pap Test Register data showed only 74% had screened previously and of those, 69% were overdue. Homelessness service workers expressed interest in talking with clients about cervical screening, and reported increased knowledge and confidence following training., Conclusion: The homelessness sector is an appropriate venue to access women who are disadvantaged and under-screened. However, increasing workforce capacity to discuss screening does not lead to increased screening for women accessing these services. Further efforts are required. SO WHAT?: Access to cervical screening by women experiencing disadvantage remains a challenge. Sustained multi-faceted health promotion efforts are required to increase access. These should be informed by additional research exploring barriers and enablers for this group of women., (© 2020 Australian Health Promotion Association.)

Although abortion rates appear to be declining in high-income nations, there is still a need for accessible, safe abortion services. However, limited attention has been paid to understanding the social contexts which shape access to abortion information and services for communities who are less engaged with sexual and reproductive health care more generally. This paper explores the views and experiences of 27 migrant and refugee young people (16-24 years old) living in Sydney, Australia, regarding unintended pregnancy and abortion. Pregnancy outside marriage was described by all participants as a shameful prospect as it revealed pre-marital sexual activity. Even when abortion was described as culturally and/or religiously unacceptable, it was believed many families would find an abortion preferable to continuing an unintended pregnancy outside marriage. However, a pervasive culture of silence regarding sexual and reproductive health may limit access to quality information and support in this area. To better meet the needs of these young people, greater attention must be paid to strengthening youth and community awareness of the availability of contraception including emergency contraception, pregnancy options, and access to abortion information and services.

Background: The copper-intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) is the most effective emergency contraception (EC), and the only method providing ongoing contraception; however, it is underutilised in Australia. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of clients and clinicians at a family planning service was undertaken. Clients aged 16-55 and identifying as female or transgender male were eligible. The survey explored previous experience with and knowledge of the Cu-IUD as EC among clients, current EC practices among clinicians, and barriers and enablers among clients and clinicians. Results: Of 470 clients, 64.5% had previously used EC. Only 12.7% knew the Cu-IUD was a form of EC and 2% had used it. When given information on effectiveness, side-effects and costs, 46.8% reported they would consider the Cu-IUD for EC. However, 40% viewed cost and possible side-effects as barriers. Of the 58 clinicians surveyed, 55% reported discussing Cu-IUD as EC with clients versus 94% discussing oral EC, with time pressures reported as the main barrier. Conclusion: Low awareness among clients, and limited discussion by clinicians, highlights a need for increased education and promotion strategies for the Cu-IUD as EC. With greater knowledge, demand for this option may increase. This will require processes to ensure timely access to insertions.

Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) are a safe and cost-effective contraceptive method for medically eligible women. Despite this, the utilisation rate for IUCDs is relatively low in many high-income countries, including Australia. Provision of education and training regarding IUCDs to healthcare providers, including nurses and midwives, is one approach to overcome some of the barriers that may prevent wider uptake of IUCDs. This study aims to explore the types and impact of IUCD insertion training for healthcare providers. A systematic review was undertaken in January 2017 to determine the effectiveness of IUCD training for healthcare providers in relation to provision of IUCDs to women. The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, COCHRANE and SCOPUS were searched to identify studies from high-income countries relating to IUCD training for healthcare providers and relevant outcomes. A total of 30 studies were included in the review. IUCD training for healthcare providers contributed to increased knowledge and improved positive attitudes towards IUCDs, high rates of successful insertions, low complication rates, and increased provision of IUCDs. Successful insertions and low complication rates were similar across different healthcare provider types. No notable differences between provider types in terms of knowledge increase or insertion outcomes were observed. Different training programs for healthcare providers were found to be effective in improving knowledge and successful provision of IUCDs. Increasing the number of healthcare providers skilled in IUCD insertions in high-income countries, including nurses and midwives, will enhance access to this method of contraception and allow women greater contraceptive choice., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background and Objectives: Young people are an important group to target with health promotion and preventive healthcare. This paper focuses on the engagement of migrant and refugee young people with sexual and reproductive healthcare in general practice., Method: Semi-structured first interviews (n = 27; 16 female, 11 male) and follow-up interviews (n = nine; six female, three male) were undertaken with migrant and refugee young people aged 16-24 years living in Sydney., Results: The majority of participants had seen a general practitioner (GP) for general health issues. However, most were reluctant to discuss sexual health with a practitioner whom they described as their 'family doctor', primarily because of concerns about judgement and confidentiality. Most described negative experiences with GPs for sexual health matters, including not being listened to or being rushed through the appointment., Discussion: There appears to be a lack of effective engagement with migrant and refugee young people by GPs in relation to sexual health. Building the skills and confidence of GPs to work with this group and promote sexual health and wellbeing should be considered, and efforts should be made to communicate confidentiality and trustworthiness.

Visual research methods like photography and digital storytelling are increasingly used in health and social sciences research as participatory approaches that benefit participants, researchers, and audiences. Visual methods involve a number of additional ethical considerations such as using identifiable content and ownership of creative outputs. As such, ethics committees should use different assessment frameworks to consider research protocols with visual methods. Here, we outline the limitations of ethics committees in assessing projects with a visual focus and highlight the sparse knowledge on how researchers respond when they encounter ethical challenges in the practice of visual research. We propose a situated approach in relation to visual methodologies that encompasses a negotiated, flexible approach, given that ethical issues usually emerge in relation to the specific contexts of individual research projects. Drawing on available literature and two case studies, we identify and reflect on nuanced ethical implications in visual research, like tensions between aesthetics and research validity. The case studies highlight strategies developed in-situ to address the challenges two researchers encountered when using visual research methods, illustrating that some practice implications are not necessarily addressed using established ethical clearance procedures. A situated approach can ensure that visual research remains ethical, engaging, and rigorous.

Young people from minority ethnic, migrant and refugee backgrounds are widely recognised as being under-served by mainstream sexual and reproductive healthcare in developed economy nations. This paper documents the views of professionals in Australia on the complexities of, and best practice approaches to, engaging members of this group with sexual and reproductive health promotion and care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 purposively selected key informants (health service providers, policymakers, academics and community advocates). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded in NVivo10 using interpretive thematic analysis. Principles of 'cultural competence' were employed to structure the interpretation of findings. Five key themes reveal pivotal aspects of how professionals work in, and make sense of, this complex field. These may be summarised as: (1) appreciating the complexities of cultural diversity; (2) recognising structural barriers and disincentives to engagement; (3) normalising sexual health; (4) balancing 'youth-friendly' and 'culturally-competent' priorities; and (5) going beyond simple translation. As migration to Australia continues to diversify the population, an integrated, national approach to the design and delivery of sexual and reproductive health promotion and care would be of value, along with training and support for those involved. Implications may have resonance for other countries similarly engaged in facilitating the successful settlement of migrants and refugees.

Background: This study reviewed implementation of the Domestic Violence Routine Screening (DVRS) program at Family Planning NSW and outcomes of screening to determine the feasibility of routine screening in a family planning setting and the suitability of this program in the context of women's reproductive and sexual health., Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was undertaken of eligible women attending Family Planning NSW clinics between 1 January and 31 December 2015. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios and assess association between binary outcomes and client characteristics., Results: Of 13440 eligible women, 5491 were screened (41%). Number of visits, clinic attended, age, employment status and disability were associated with completion of screening. In all, 220 women (4.0%) disclosed domestic violence. Factors associated with disclosure were clinic attended, age group, region of birth, employment status, education and disability. Women who disclosed domestic violence were more likely to have discussed issues related to sexually transmissible infections in their consultation. All women who disclosed were assessed for any safety concerns and offered a range of suitable referral options., Conclusion: Although routine screening may not be appropriate in all health settings, given associations between domestic violence and sexual and reproductive health, a DVRS program is considered appropriate in sexual and reproductive health clinics and appears to be feasible in a service such as Family Planning NSW. Consistent implementation of the program should continue at Family Planning NSW and be expanded to other family planning services in Australia to support identification and early intervention for women affected by domestic violence.

Sexual and reproductive health needs are global health, development and human rights priorities, essential to the wellbeing of individuals, couples and families. Despite widespread recognition of this, young people, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds in wealthy nations such as Australia, remain largely hidden to, and underserved by, sexual and reproductive healthcare services. A scoping review was undertaken to describe the range of research on sexual and reproductive health among culturally diverse young people in Australia, in order to identify gaps in the literature. This comprised a systematic literature search and key informant consultations, followed by descriptive thematic analysis of the included literature. One hundred and twenty papers were deemed eligible for inclusion, and findings are presented as three separate analyses. The first provides an overview of four dimensions identified in the literature: (i) cultural diversity; (ii) the resettlement experiences of migrant communities; (iii) the sexual and reproductive health needs of these communities; and (iv) the practices of health services in this field. The second explores what is known from the literature about culturally diverse young people's needs for, use of, and engagement with services for sexual and reproductive health, while the third identifies two knowledge gaps: (1) the perspectives of culturally diverse young people regarding sexual and reproductive health and health care; and (2) the engagement of culturally diverse young people with sexual and reproductive health services. New directions for a research agenda on sexual and reproductive health care for culturally diverse young people in Australia are proposed, based on the identified knowledge gaps.

Background: Burden of disease (BoD) studies have been conducted in numerous international settings since the early 1990's. Two national BoD studies have been undertaken in Australia, in 1998 and 2003, although neither study estimated the BoD specifically for Indigenous Australians. In 2005 the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health formally commissioned the University of Queensland to undertake, in parallel with the second national BoD study, the "Burden of Disease and Injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples" study, drawing on available data up to 2003. This paper aims to explore the policy context and narrative in the lead up to commissioning the Indigenous BoD (IBoD) study, focusing on relevant contextual factors and insights regarding the perspectives of key stakeholders and their anticipated value of the study. It is part of a broader project that examines the uptake of evidence to policy, using the IBoD study as a case study., Methods: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken in late 2013 and early 2014, and the findings triangulated with 38 key informant interviews with Indigenous and non-Indigenous academics, researchers, statisticians, policy advisors, and policymakers, conducted between 2011 and 2013., Findings: Contextual features which led to commissioning the IBoD study included widespread recognition of longstanding Indigenous disadvantage, lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians, and the lack of an adequate evidence base upon which to determine priorities for interventions. Several anticipated benefits and expectations of key stakeholders were identified. Most informants held at least one of the following expectations of the study: that it would inform the evidence base, contribute to priority setting, and/or inform policy. There were differing or entirely contrasting views to this however, with some sharing concerns about the study being undertaken at all., Conclusions: The IBoD study, in concept, offered the potential to generate much desired 'answers', in the form of a quantified ranking of health risks and disease burden, and it was hoped by many that the results of the study would feed into determining priorities and informing Indigenous health policy.