A quick reference to the sentinel indicators of perinatal health and care among Nova Scotia residents who delivered from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2009. Categories include deliveries and births in Nova Scotia, determinants of maternal, fetal and infant health, labour and birth processes, and maternal, fetal and infant health outcomes. Created to assist with the development and monitoring of standards of care and to trigger research questions that can be pursued in the future.

Between 1970 and 2006 the cesarean section rate in Canada more than quadrupled from 6% to 26%. Similar increases have occurred in every province, including Nova Scotia where the cesarean section rate in 2006 was 27%. As part of an effort to understand the reasons for increased interventions in childbirth in our province, the Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia conducted quality assessment reviews in four different centres. This report outlines the collective findings from these reviews, describes the factors that appear to support best practices in maternity care with respect to cesarean sections in Nova Scotia, and presents recommendations for local and provincial action.

An overview of selected perinatal health and clinical care issues including trends in demographic characteristics, health choices, clinical interventions, and perinatal health outcomes for the Nova Scotia population. Topics covered include maternal health, maternal health services, maternal behavious and lifestyle, fetal and infant mortality, and infant morbidity. Data are for year 2000 although many items are reported as multi-year trends from 1988 to 2000.

In January 2002, the Department of Health, Public Health/Health Promotion, asked the Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia to "Develop ...Department of Health minimum acceptable standards for initial postpartum contact (0-6 weeks) in Nova Scotia". RCP established a Postpartum Services Review Working Group with representation from hospital and community nursing, nursing education, family practice, public health, obstetrics and pediatrics to assist them with this important task. This report represents the findings of the Postpartum Services Review Working Group and recommends a series of guidelines intended to ensure that postpartum/postnatal services are provided in an informed and consistent way across Nova Scotia.