Indigenous perinatal and neonatal outcomes: a time for preventive strategies

Pregnancy outcomes for Indigenous mothers and babies have improved, but marked disparities remain between Indigenous and non-Indigenous women. Many contributors to these disparities such as smoking, alcohol use, poor nutrition, infection, teenage pregnancy and stress are preventable or modifiable particularly if addressed prior to pregnancy. It is suggested that we expand our reproductive health research, education and care to a life course approach beginning in early adolescence. � 2010 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).