National core maternity indicators

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has issued the first report of ten national core maternity indicators for monitoring the quality of maternity care in Australia. Since 2004 and 2007 measurements, national rates have decreased for smoking in pregnancy, episiotomy among women having their first baby and giving birth vaginally and the proportion of babies born weighing less than 2,750 grams at or after 40 weeks. However for some indicators, including induction of labour, caesarean section and instrumental vaginal birth, rates have increased and point to areas for possible further attention.
Download the full report here.