This section of the Chief Health Officer report looks at maternal and infant health in Victoria.
It draws on Victoria's mothers, babies and children 2016, published by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2017, which provides data on perinatal, maternal and infant health.
It also discusses two key issues for maternal and infant health in Victoria:
- safe sleeping of infants
- ways to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal women and babies.
The Chief Health Officer notes that reducing smoking during pregnancy and promotion of breastfeeding are key interventions to improve health outcomes for both mother and child.
Updated