Home births are associated with higher death rates than hospital births, according to research published in the Medical Journal of Australia .
The ABC reports the study examined home and hospital births in South Australia over a 15-year period to 2006.
The Australian Medical Association says it shows that deaths from home births were markedly more common than hospital births.
President Andrew Pesce says the study sends a strong signal to the government that any policy decisions on maternity care must be based on evidence.
Dr Pesce says the association does not support home births.
