Experiences and inequalities in Indonesia's transition to hospital birth (2025-2027)

This project aims to explain inequalities in maternal health by investigating the hospital birth experiences of diverse and disadvantaged Indonesian women. Nearly 80% of Indonesian births take place in a health facility but the maternal mortality ratio remains the highest in Southeast Asia. Working with Indonesian researchers, this project expects to produce in-depth knowledge of women's birth experiences and interactions with maternity care systems. Expected outcomes include new knowledge of why some women avoid health facilities or have negative experiences, and how to improve birth experiences. This benefits Australian and Indonesian agendas to create equitable, inclusive maternal health care and advance equality in our region.