| The Western Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Initiative was launched on the 17th November 2014 to coincide with World Prematurity Day. Its aim is to safely lower the rate of preterm birth through an integrated and state-wide campaign involving new clinical strategies, education programs for health care providers and the general public, and a Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic at King Edward Memorial Hospital. The Initiative is underpinned by on-going research aiming to both improve the effectiveness of the clinical strategies and to monitor the success of the program. In October 2016, results from the first year of the Initiative revealed a reduction in the rate of preterm birth across WA of almost 8 per cent. These results, published in The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, have global implications for safely and effectively lowering the rate of preterm birth, saving countless lives and preventing lifelong disability. The findings have also been recognised as a ‘Report of Major Impact’ by AJOG. This designation acknowledges the Initiative’s potential for immediate impact among the global clinical and scientific community. |
Our campaign is being run in three stages:
| Stage 1 – Health Professionals – focus on health care education for medical/health professionals communicating new evidence based clinical guidelines to help reduce preterm birth. (See booklet and GP posters below) |
| Stage 2 – Women and Families through a Public Health Program and Outreach Program |
| Stage 3 – High Risk Groups focus, evaluation and reinforcing the Initiative |
The Whole Nine Months Magazines
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Health Professional Booklet / Posters
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Media Articles
| Reducing preterm births | WA program changing the way we treat premature births | Preterm births prevented by WA program |
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| Radio National: Health Report | The West Australian | AAP Newswire |
| The Whole Nine Months Magazine 2016 | MP praises work of birth clinic | Premature birth research |
| The West Australian |
The West Australian | Ten Eyewitness News |
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| Edge of Life | Making Preterm Birth History | $500,000 funding boost for crucial WA preterm birth research |
| SBS Insight | The West Australian | Perth Now |
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| The Whole Nine Months Magazine | Perth researchers leading the way in preventing pre-term childbirth | The Gift of HOPE |
| The West Australian | ABC 720 | The West Australian |
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| Fighting the good fight | Strategies to Prevent Preterm Birth | Preventing Preterm Birth New Pharmalogical Strategies |
| Medicus | Frontiers in Immunology | Research Australia |
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| New research to end pre-term births | Preterm Birth Prevention | Baby Joy After So Much Agony |
| ABC Radio Babytalk | Seven News | The West Australian |
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Media Releases
| Initiative to reduce WA’s preterm birth rate | Baby steps initial findings promising for clinic | Preterm Birth Clinic Saves Amanda’s Baby |
| November 2014 | June 2015 | August 2015 |
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| Pioneering research achieves 8% reduction in rate of preterm birth | Study investigates lasting impacts of late preterm birth | Event to canvass a way forward to reduce Tasmania’s preterm birth rates |
| November 2016 | November 2018 | November 2018 |
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| Media enquires – Richie Hodgson / richie@wirf.com.au |
Videos and multimedia resources
 Preterm Birth Initiative recognised as a Report of Major Impact |
We need your support to prevent premature birth |
Theresa shares her story of preterm birth |
