Tag Archives: child birth

Beyond the headlines in maternity care

A study comparing outcomes for public and private hospital births was published in the Medical Journal of Australia in February.
It attracted dramatic headlines. “Public hospital births double risk for mother and baby, says report,” said the Age. “Babies die less often in private hospitals,” said the Australian. “Private hospital births safer than public: study,” from [...]

Are we paying a high price for soaring caesar rates?

The latest national figures show the Australian health system is paying a high price for the ever-increasing rate of caesarean sections.
In 2006, 30.8% of births were by caesarean section, compared with 20.3% in 1997. The Australia’s mothers and babies 2006 report, by the AIHW National Perinatal Statistics Unit at the University of New South Wales, [...]