Risk of perinatal mortality in the first year of midwifery practice in New Zealand: analysis of a retrospective national cohort.

Objectives: To determine whether there was an increased risk of perinatal mortality among mothers booked for care with community lead maternity carer (LMC) midwives in their first compared with later years of practice.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using linked national maternity, mortality and workforce data; adjusted analysis using logistic regression.

Setting: New Zealand.