Australia's persistently high rate of early-term prelabour Caesarean delivery.

Objective To compare the incidence of prelabour Caesarean delivery (PCD) at early term (37 weeks and 0 days (370) to 38 weeks and 6 days (386) of gestation) between Australian states and hospital sectors over time and to compare these rates with those of England and the United States of America (USA). Method A population-based descriptive study of 556040 singleton PCDs at term (370-406 weeks) in all public and private hospitals in Australian states, 2005-16, was performed. The primary outcome was the early-term PCD rate, defined as early-term PCDs as a percentage of all term PCDs.

Perinatal mortality disparities between public care and private obstetrician-led care: a propensity score analysis.

Objective: To examine whether disparities in stillbirth, and neonatal and perinatal mortality rates, between public and private hospitals are the result of differences in population characteristics and/or clinical practices.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A metropolitan tertiary centre encompassing public and private hospitals.

Public-private differences in short-term neonatal outcomes following birth by prelabour caesarean section at early and full term.

Background: Prelabour caesarean section (CS) at early term (37 -38  weeks) is associated with higher rates of adverse short-term neonatal outcomes and higher costs than those performed at full term (39 -40  weeks). Prelabour CS is more common in private than in public hospitals in Australia, particularly at early term.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of hospital sector (public or private) and timing of delivery on short-term neonatal outcomes following prelabour CS at term.

Classification of causes and associated conditions for stillbirths and neonatal deaths.

Accurate and consistent classification of causes and associated conditions for perinatal deaths is essential to inform strategies to reduce the five million which occur globally each year. With the majority of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), their needs must be prioritised. The aim of this paper is to review the classification of perinatal death, the contemporary classification systems including the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases - Perinatal Mortality (ICD-PM), and next steps.