The Medical journal of Australia
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Review
Improving maternity services for Indigenous women in Australia: moving from policy to practice.
The well established disparities in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians include a significant and concerning higher incidence of preterm birth, low birth weight and newborn mortality. Chronic diseases (eg, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and renal disease) that are prevalent in Indigenous Australian adults have their genesis in utero and in early life. Applying interventions during pregnancy and early life that aim to improve maternal and infant health is likely to have long lasting consequences, as recognised by Australia's National Maternity Services Plan (NMSP), which set out a 5-year vision for 2010-2015 that was endorsed by all governments (federal and state and territory). ⋯ More urgent leadership is required from the Australian government. Funding needs to be allocated to the priority areas, including for scholarships and support to train and retain Indigenous midwives, greater commitment to culturally competent maternity care and the development and evaluation of Birthing on Country sites in urban, rural and particularly in remote and very remote communities. Tools such as the Australian Rural Birth Index and the National Maternity Services Capability Framework can help guide this work.
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To compare the characteristics of women who have undergone vulvoplasty with those of other women of reproductive age; to quantify short term adverse events and complications; to determine any association between vulvoplasty and subsequent outcomes for women giving birth. ⋯ The number of vulvoplasties performed in NSW has increased dramatically since 2001. The procedure is not without serious complications that can necessitate re-admission to hospital. We provide objective information about outcomes for counselling women who are contemplating vulvoplasty.