• Devon Indig, Alexandra Warner, and Anne Saxton.
• Centre for Health Research in Criminal Justice, Justice Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, 152 Bunnerong Road, Eastgardens, NSW 2035, Australia. devon.indig@justicehealth.nsw.gov.au
• Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2011 Jun 1;51(3):257-61.

BackgroundMany women with problems in early pregnancy such as vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain present to the emergency department (ED).AimTo describe demographic, service delivery and diagnostic characteristics of women who presented to the ED with a problem in early pregnancy.MethodsData were reviewed for all electronically available ED presentations in 2008 in NSW, Australia according to diagnostic codes related to problems in early pregnancy (N=12,061). Descriptive statistics were used to illustrate relevant characteristics, and adjusted odds ratios were used to highlight the predictors of key service delivery outcomes.ResultsWomen who presented to the ED for a problem in early pregnancy accounted for 1.2% of all ED presentations for women. The average age of women who presented to the ED for a problem in early pregnancy was 29.3 years, with 25% aged 35 years or older. Over a fourth (28%) of women presented to the ED on a weekend and over a third (37%) presented after-hours. Most (70%) women were seen according to their triage category, and the median length of stay in the ED was just under 4 h. One-fourth of women were admitted to hospital, which was 3.8 times more likely among women with an ectopic pregnancy.ConclusionsThe findings of this research may be useful for hospitals and clinicians to review and improve their current service delivery models for women who present to the ED with a problem in early pregnancy.© 2011 The Authors. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2011 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

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