This literature review considers New Zealand and international literature on the experiences of younger mothers, their perceptions of the issues they face as well as their views on what would work best to improve their situation.

The Perinatal Services Inquiry engaged in the significant task of examining the quality and safety of perinatal services in Victoria, including services dealing with high risk and premature births, and the quality and safety of current methods to reduce infant and maternal mortality.

This report focuses on key improvements in the health of Aboriginal children in NSW in the first five years of life, and highlights some of the services and programs that have helped to achieve these.

The perinatal mortality rate in Australia in 2013–2014 was low (9.7 deaths per 1,000 births). Perinatal mortality rates increased with low birthweight for gestational age, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ethnicity and a number of other demographic factors. Perinatal death was most commonly caused by congenital anomaly and spontaneous preterm birth.

This review examines the effectiveness of strategies designed to improve breastfeeding considering their impact on breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity and duration.