Media release
From: Australian Science Media CentreNEWS BRIEFING – Monday January 18 January at 11:00 AEDT ONLINE.
Additional media call and filming opportunity – Tuesday 19 January at 10:00 Queensland time at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba QLD.
An Australian-led study has found that women from lower socio-economic families face twice the risk of delivering a stillborn baby than their wealthier counterparts. The study of 49 high-income countries, including Australia, suggests nearly 20,000 stillbirths could have been prevented in 2015. Australia’s stillbirth rates are significantly higher than the best-performing developed countries, including the Netherlands, which has reduced its rates since 2000. The lack of progress on stillbirths contrasts with improvements in survival of babies born prematurely, and more must be done to address the issue, say the scientists.
Although substandard care contributes to between 20 and 30 per cent of stillbirths in high-income countries, many remain unexplained and stats are patchy, say the authors, suggesting high quality national audits of stillbirth should be introduced. This could help reduce stillbirth rates rapidly, according to the scientists.
The study was part of The Lancet’s Ending Preventable Stillbirths series, which estimates 98 per cent of the world’s 2.6 million stillbirths each year occur in low- and middle-income countries. Half of all stillbirths (1.3 million) occur during labour and birth, and most of these deaths could be prevented with improved quality of care, according to the research.
Join us for this online briefing, when authors of the study will discuss their findings.
SPEAKERS:
- Associate Professor Vicki Flenady is from the Mater Research Institute at the University of Queensland
- Professor Fran Boyle, is from the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland
- Professor David Ellwood is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Griffith University
DATE: Monday January 18th 2016
START TIME: 11:00am AEDT
DURATION: Approx 45 min
LOCATION: Online
Please note, The Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland will be holding a separate media call on Tuesday 19 January at 10:00am Queensland time (11:00 AEDT) in Room 2007, Level 2 Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba QLD 4102. The media call will include the above speakers as well as a representative from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Ms Claire Foord, the mother of Alfie – lost to stillbirth. There will be a further opportunity for interviews and photos at this event. Contact Caroline Bird, for details of this event on Telephone: 07 3365 1130 Email: c.bird1@uq.edu.au. Alternative contact: Amy Schostakowski Telephone: 07 3163 1416, Mobile: m: 0421 897 853 and Email: amy.schostakowski@mater.org.au
JOINING ONLINE:
Journalists can follow the briefing online via audio and video streaming. Each presenter will speak for 5-7 minutes followed by questions. Journalists will have the opportunity to ask questions online.
1. Go to the briefing web portal by clicking here 5 minutes before the start time or anytime during the briefing.
2. Enter your name and email address
3. Click "Join".
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PHONE ONLY ACCESS:
1. For phone only access please call: 1800 049 813.
2. Enter access code 868 088 512.Wait for the prompt and press #.
Radio stations can also record the briefing over a phone line. If you would like to make sure that you can connect, please contact us to arrange a quick test before the day.
If you have any problems joining the briefing online, phone Webex on 1800 493 239 quoting event number 868 088 512.
A recording will be posted here as soon as possible after the event.
For further information, please contact the AusSMC on 08 7120 8666 or email info@smc.org.au.