Mothers and babies

Measure

Number of liveborn babies born to First Nations mothers.

Data period

3 year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021)

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

Numbers less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.

Notes

• Indigenous status is based on mother’s Indigenous status.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.

Measure

Number of First Nations liveborn babies.

Data period

3 year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021)

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

Numbers less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.

Notes

• Indigenous status is based on baby’s Indigenous status.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.

Measure

Proportion (%) of mothers who gave birth who were First Nations women.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated.

Measure

Proportion (%) of births to women by mothers’ age at delivery.

Mother’s age at delivery categories

• Under 20


• 20–24


• 25–29


• 30–34


• 35 and over.

Available by

Indigenous status: First Nations, non-Indigenous.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

Numbers less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.

Notes

• The denominator for the percentages excludes records where maternal age was not stated.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.


• Women who gave birth multiple times following multiple pregnancies during the three years from 2019 to 2021 were counted multiple times. Women who gave birth to multiple babies following one pregnancy were only counted once.

Measure

Proportion (%) of First Nations mothers who gave birth by the number of antenatal care visits.

Antenatal care categories (number of visits)

• 0


• 1


• 2 –4


• 5 or more.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• The denominator for the percentages excludes records where maternal age was not stated.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.


• Women who gave birth multiple times following multiple pregnancies during the three years from 2019 to 2021 were counted multiple times. Women who gave birth to multiple babies following one pregnancy were only counted once.

Measure

Proportion (%) of First Nations mothers who gave birth by the number of antenatal care visits.

Antenatal care categories (number of visits)

• 0


• 1


• 2 –4


• 5 or more.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• The denominator for the percentages excludes records where maternal age was not stated.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.


• Women who gave birth multiple times following multiple pregnancies during the three years from 2019 to 2021 were counted multiple times. Women who gave birth to multiple babies following one pregnancy were only counted once.

Measure

Duration of pregnancy (in weeks) at the first antenatal care visit for First Nations mothers, expressed as a proportion (%) of all First Nations mothers.

Duration of pregnancy categories (weeks)

• Less than 14


• 14–19


• 20 or more


• Never attended antenatal care.

Available by

Indigenous status: Indigenous, non-Indigenous.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• The duration of pregnancy in completed weeks is calculated from the date of the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period and her baby’s date of birth; or via ultrasound; or derived from clinical assessment during pregnancy or from examination of the baby after birth.


• The denominator for the percentages excludes mothers for whom duration of pregnancy at the first antenatal care visit was not stated.


• First Nations women who gave birth multiple times following multiple pregnancies during the three years from 2019 to 2021 were counted multiple times. Women who gave birth to multiple babies following one pregnancy were only counted once.


• For the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and regions within the ACT, first antenatal visit is often the first hospital antenatal clinic visit. In many cases, earlier antenatal care provided by the woman’s general practitioner is not reported.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.

Measure

Proportion (%) of First Nations mothers who smoked tobacco during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• Mother’s tobacco smoking status during pregnancy is self-reported.


• All valid data for women with a recorded smoking status who gave birth in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were included.


• The denominator for the percentages excludes mothers for whom smoking status in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy was not stated.


• First Nations women who gave birth multiple times following multiple pregnancies during the three years from 2019 to 2021 were counted multiple times. Women who gave birth to multiple babies following one pregnancy were only counted once.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.

Measure

Proportion (%) of mothers who smoked tobacco at anytime during pregnancy.

Available by

Indigenous status: First Nations, non-Indigenous.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• Mother’s tobacco smoking status during pregnancy is self-reported.


• All valid data for women with a recorded smoking status who gave birth in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were included.


• The denominator for the percentages excludes mothers for whom smoking status during pregnancy was not stated.


• First Nations women who gave birth multiple times following multiple pregnancies during the three years from 2019 to 2021 were counted multiple times. Women who gave birth to multiple babies following one pregnancy were only counted once.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.

Measure

Proportion (%) of First Nations mothers who gave birth by Body Mass Index (BMI) category.

BMI categories

• Underweight (BMI of under 18.5)


• Normal weight (18.5–24.9)


• Overweight (25.0–29.9)


• Obese (30.0 or over)

Available by

Indigenous status: First Nations, non-Indigenous.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• All valid data for women gave birth in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were included.


• The denominator for the percentages excludes mothers whose BMI was not stated.


• BMI data are based on a combination of measured and self-reported data. The methods used for data collection in States and Territories is not uniform. Care must be taken when comparing across jurisdictions.


• First Nations women who gave birth multiple times following multiple pregnancies during the three years from 2019 to 2021 were counted multiple times. Women who gave birth to multiple babies following one pregnancy were only counted once.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.

Measures

• Proportion (%) of singleton liveborn babies with a low birthweight, by Indigenous status.


• Proportion (%) of singleton liveborn babies First Nations babies with a healthy birthweight.

Birthweight categories

• Low birthweight (less than 2,500 grams)


• Healthy birthweight (2,500–4,499 grams).

Available by

Indigenous status: First Nations, non-Indigenous.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• Data relate to live births. Data excludes multiple births, stillbirths and births of less than 20 weeks gestation. Births both less than 20 weeks gestation and less than 400 grams birthweight are not included in the National Perinatal Data Collection. The denominator for the percentages excludes babies whose birthweight was not stated.


• Indigenous status is based on the baby’s Indigenous status.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.

Measure

Proportion (%) of singleton liveborn babies who were born preterm (with a gestational age of less than 37 weeks), by Indigenous status.

Available by

Indigenous status: First Nations, non-Indigenous.

Data period

3-year period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021 (2019–2021).

Data source

National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC).

Region types

• Main structures: Australia, states and territories, Statistical Area Level 4 (SA4).


• Indigenous structures: Indigenous Regions (IREG).

Suppression

• Percentages with a numerator of less than 5 have been suppressed for confidentiality reasons. Consequential suppression has also been applied where required to prevent back-calculation.


• Data have been suppressed if the denominator for the percentage was less than 100, due to concerns about the reliability of percentages based on small denominator.

Notes

• Data relate to live births. Data excludes multiple births, stillbirths and births of less than 20 weeks gestation. Births both less than 20 weeks gestation and less than 400 grams birthweight are not included in the National Perinatal Data Collection.


• The denominator for the percentages excludes babies whose gestational age was not stated.


• Indigenous status is based on the baby’s Indigenous status.


• The data associated with each record in the NPDC include the Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) of residence of the mother. The SA2 variable was used to aggregate and concord data as necessary to IREG and SA4. Includes Australian non-residents, residents of external territories and records where state/territory of residence was not stated.


• In the NPDC, data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 are based on the 2016 ASGS. For this analysis, SA2 were concorded to IREG before being aggregated. Data were aggregated and apportioned to the reported region types.