Title: The potential of maternal and child health service data in Australia: how lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic can accelerate data‐informed decision making.
Authors: Shipton, Ashleigh; O'Connor, Meredith; Wake, Melissa; Goldfeld, Sharon; Lees, Helen; Adams, Catina; Edvardsson, Kristina; Hooker, Leesa; Mohal, Jatender; Pilkington, Rhiannon M; Mensah, Fiona K
Abstract: The article discusses the importance of maternal and child health service data in Australia, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes the need for improved data collection and analysis to inform decision-making and policy development. The focus is on Victoria's maternal and child health service dataset, which is comprehensive but currently unlinked to key health and determinants data. The article calls for collaborative action to address this issue and highlights the potential benefits of linking this data for early intervention policy and monitoring child health outcomes.
Subjects: AUSTRALIA; VICTORIA; MATERNAL health; CHILDREN'S health; EARLY medical intervention; DATA integration; POLICY sciences; COVID-19; DATA analysis
Publication: Medical Journal of Australia, 2025, Vol 222, Issue 8, p377
ISSN: 0025-729X
Publication type: Academic Journal
DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52630

The potential of maternal and child health service data in Australia: how lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic can accelerate data‐informed decision making.

Shipton, Ashleigh; O'Connor, Meredith; Wake, Melissa; Goldfeld, Sharon; Lees, Helen; Adams, Catina; Edvardsson, Kristina; Hooker, Leesa; Mohal, Jatender; Pilkington, Rhiannon M; Mensah, Fiona K