Dr Keeth Mayakaduwage
Receiving the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) Emerging Leader Award at the Australian Public Health Conference was an incredible honour and a milestone in my career as a public health advocate.
This recognition not only affirms the importance of my work but amplifies the urgent need to address critical issues in women’s health.
I am passionate about advocating for the health and wellbeing of women, particularly in areas that are often overlooked or stigmatised. As a public health community, we must prioritise stillbirth reduction, tackle inequities in reproductive health, and address mental health support for women in Australia.
Stillbirth: a silent tragedy
Stillbirth remains one of the most tragic yet under-recognised issues in maternal and child health.
Despite advances in healthcare, Australia’s stillbirth rate has not significantly declined over the past two decades, with six babies stillborn every day. This devastating outcome leaves families in profound grief and has far-reaching impacts on mental health and wellbeing.
We have robust evidence on effective strategies to reduce stillbirths, including enhancing the quality of antenatal care, promoting smoking cessation, improving the detection of fetal growth restriction, and increasing awareness about fetal movements.
The Australian Government’s National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan, aiming to decrease stillbirth rates by 20% or more by 2025, is a commendable initiative that highlights the urgency of this issue.
Central to this plan is the Safer Baby Bundle, initially launched in Victoria and now expanding nationwide, which represents a significant advancement in stillbirth prevention efforts across Australia.
However, sustained national commitment is essential to achieving substantial progress.
This requires continued investment in stillbirth research, strengthening data collection systems, and ensuring equitable access to high-quality antenatal care for all pregnant women, regardless of their geographic location or socio-economic status.
Addressing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes is vital to fulfill the Plan’s goals and make meaningful reductions in stillbirth rates.
Addressing inequities in reproductive health
Reproductive health encompasses a broad range of services, including access to contraception, prenatal and antenatal care, safe childbirth, and postnatal support.
Significant disparities persist in these areas, particularly for marginalised groups such as Indigenous women, migrant and refugee women, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
These communities often face structural barriers to accessing timely and appropriate care, which can lead to adverse maternal outcomes including higher rates of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and increased risk of maternal and perinatal mortality.
To address these disparities, it is crucial to develop and implement healthcare services that are not only accessible but also culturally and linguistically appropriate.
This means ensuring that healthcare providers are trained to deliver care that respects cultural differences and addresses the specific needs of diverse populations.
Additionally, supporting underrepresented communities to join the healthcare workforce can help bridge gaps in communication and trust, making healthcare settings more welcoming and inclusive.
Efforts to reduce these inequities should also focus on removing practical barriers, such as providing interpreter services and making healthcare affordable for all women.
Inclusive health policies and programs are key to ensuring that every woman has equitable access to high-quality reproductive care.
Supporting women’s mental health
Mental health is a critical aspect of overall wellbeing, yet is often neglected in discussions about women’s health.
Women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than men, and these issues are particularly pronounced during and after pregnancy.
Perinatal mental health disorders affect up to one in five women, yet many do not receive the support they need. The stigma surrounding mental health, coupled with a lack of specialised services, means that too many women are suffering in silence.
Improving mental health support for women requires a multi-faceted approach.
Firstly, we need to integrate mental health screening and support into routine antenatal and postnatal care. Healthcare professionals must be trained to recognise and address mental health concerns, and women should be empowered to seek help without fear of judgment.
Additionally, we must invest in mental health services that are accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate.
Our collective power
The PHAA Emerging Leader Award is not just a personal achievement but a reminder of our collective responsibility to address these pressing public health issues.
It is essential to maintain momentum and continue advocating for women’s health as a national priority. By working together—policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and communities—we can create a future where every woman can thrive.
I am immensely grateful to the PHAA for this recognition and the opportunity to contribute to the conversation on women’s health.
I hope that this award will inspire others to advocate for the changes we desperately need, to ensure that all women have access to the highest standard of care and support they deserve.
Dr Keeth Mayakaduwage is a resident medical officer at Monash Health, adjunct lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University, and Executive Committee Member of the PHAA Women’s Health Special Interest Group.
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