A recent review has uncovered a troubling trend: expectant mothers in Queensland are missing critical prenatal scans at a concerning rate. The Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council conducted the review following alarming government data that showed Queensland has a higher rate of perinatal deaths compared to most of Australia.
The review, initiated in February, investigated 158 cases of perinatal deaths, including stillbirths occurring before 28 weeks and neonatal deaths before 22 weeks. It highlighted that Queensland ranks second last in the nation for healthy births, prompting a detailed clinical examination of the issue.
Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, who ordered the review, expressed concern over the findings. “The review revealed that while no interventions could have changed the outcomes in these cases, a significant number of women were not attending recommended prenatal scans,” she said. The review identified that elevated body mass index, younger maternal age, and lower socioeconomic status, including First Nations backgrounds, contributed to increased risks.
The report makes several recommendations, including improving data collection, enhancing screening tools, and launching a $3 million state-funded initiative. This initiative will feature a social media campaign aimed at encouraging expectant mothers to attend their prenatal scans.
Professor Edward Weaver, Senior Medical Officer and co-chair of the Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council, emphasized the importance of early antenatal care. “Early access to antenatal care is crucial for optimal outcomes for both mothers and babies,” he said.
The review follows a January report by the Productivity Commission, which revealed Queensland’s perinatal death rate of 11.5 per 1,000 births in 2022, compared to the national average of 8.1. The number of perinatal deaths in Queensland rose to 720 in 2022 from 488 in 2018, underscoring the urgent need for improved prenatal care.
