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Private births 40 percent more likely to suffer problems: study

Private births 40 percent more likely to suffer problems: study

New research has found babies born in Australia's private hospitals are more likely to experience birth problems.

The University of Western Sydney study took eight years and involved nearly 700,000 women.

The results show babies born in private hospitals were 40 percent more likely to suffer medical trauma than those born in public hospitals.


Birth problems included scalp injuries, jaundice, and even broken bones.

It also found there were more re-admissions with feeding and respiratory problems.

The professor behind the study believes the problems are linked to higher rates of medical intervention at private hospitals, where babies are more likely to be born early and through induced or caesarian births.