Expectant mothers are missing their prenatal screenings at an alarming rate, a clinical review into the death of babies in Queensland has revealed.
The review by the Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council was ordered in February after government figures revealed that more babies die within 28 days of birth in Queensland than across most of Australia.
The review examined 158 perinatal deaths for stillbirths less than 28 weeks and neonatal deaths less than 22 weeks.
Maternal risk factors, such as an elevated body mass index during pregnancy, contributed to stillbirth and neonatal deaths.
There was also an increased risk for expectant mothers aged 20 or younger during pregnancy, and those of lower socioeconomic status and First Nations background.
It found that a "significant" amount of women were missing their vital pregnancy scans.
"We ordered this review to better understand why these deaths occur and how we can better support pregnant women to identify the risk factors," Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said.
"While the review found there were no interventions which would have changed the outcome in these instances, it did find that a high number of women were not accessing the recommended antenatal ultrasounds.
"I'd like to urge all pregnant people to attend the recommended scans to better inform themselves about their pregnancy's progress."
The recommendations include a social media campaign to encourage expectant mothers to get their prenatal scans. (Flickr: Quinn Dombrowski)
Eight recommendations have been handed down, including strengthening data collection and screening tools.
In a statement, Ms Fentiman said $3 million would be invested by the state government to help strengthen maternal fetal services. It will include a social media campaign to encourage expectant mothers to get their prenatal scans.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is urging expectant mothers to get their early scans. (ABC News: Jack McKay)
Senior Medical Officer Professor Edward Weaver, who co-chairs the Queensland Maternal and Perinatal Quality Council, said encouraging early scans is a key step towards improving maternal health outcomes.
"Early access to antenatal care is critical to having the best possible outcomes for mothers and babies," he said.
"Raising awareness of the importance of early antenatal care, strong referral pathways for people with high-risk pregnancies, and strengthening maternal fetal medicine services in Queensland are key steps toward improving maternal health outcomes."
A report released by the Productivity Commission in January listed 11.5 perinatal deaths per 1,000 births in Queensland in 2022, including stillbirths and those occurring within 28 days of delivery. The national average is 8.1.
In raw numbers, 720 perinatal deaths were recorded in Queensland in 2022, compared to 488 in 2018.