The nation has seen half of its rural maternity services close since the 1990s, which has left maternity deserts and women facing the uncertainty of birthing on the side of the road, as roadside birth creep towards 1 in every 50 births in some areas.
Women in rural areas without maternity services don't just face the prospects of birthing in gravel on the side of the road, they have higher rates of preterm and stillbirths, and face the economic and psychological burden of often having to relocate many hours from home to access care and birth their children.
Ten national organisations and the Rural Health Commissioners Office are today releasing the National Rural Maternity Consensus Framework, highlighting the importance of rural birthing services for women and their babies.
Women are calling for urgent action to ensure this framework is implemented in its entirety.
More here: The future of rural and remote maternity; a framework for success
About us:
MCN is Australia's leading maternity consumer advocacy organisation.
