This in-depth analysis of the midwifery profession reveals widespread staffing shortfalls, particularly in non-metropolitan areas. The report says that the workforce is in crisis and urgent action is needed to boost midwifery students by a fifth. The report provides more than 30 recommendations to grow the midwifery workforce and ensure its future.

INTRODUCTION Recent reports indicate that social policy in developed countries has seen positive results in well - child health and safety, child material security, education and socialisation (UNICEF, 2007) . In countries where child health is supported by policy, children have relatively high levels of well - being as measured by material well - being...

Early postnatal discharge is itself not a new concept. Its first recorded use was in New Orleans, 1942, when postnatal mothers were discharged soon after birthing to relieve pressure on crowded hospital situations. Since then, the effects of early postnatal discharge on mothers and babies have been widely studied, but the research has primarily focused...