Aboriginal mothers are three to five times more likely to die during childbirth, and their babies two to three times more likely, Australian College of Midwives (ACM) president Sue Kruske says.
She said many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women living in remote areas were denied access to a midwife and instead treated by medical staff without specialised knowledge of maternity care.
‘While inequalities are a global issue, we also want to raise awareness of local challenges,’ Professor Kruske said.
‘Right here in Australia, maternal and perinatal mortality rates in our indigenous population continue to be far worse than the non-indigenous population.’
There are less than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives registered in Australia.
The ACM is supporting a new scholarship fund by the Rhodanthe Lipsett Trust to boost indigenous midwive numbers.
Sunday is International Day of the Midwife.
Forrás: Sky News Australia