Indicator:

Low birth weight, born alive < 2500g

Policy context:

Infants are considered low birthweight if they are born weighing less than 2,500 grams1. This can be related to birth before 37 weeks of completed gestation (preterm low birthweight), growth restriction in the uterus (low birthweight for gestational age) or a combination of both.¹ʼ² Low birthweight is associated with increased risk of poor health, disability and death in infancy and, increased risk of health problems later in life.¹ʼ²ʼ³ It can therefore be used as an indicator of the health of infants at birth and understood as a determinant of their ongoing wellbeing.²

The likelihood of an infant being born low birthweight because of preterm birth is increased by multiple birth (twins and higher), maternal Indigenous status, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal residence in remote area and maternal age (under 20 or over 40)²ʼ⁴.

On an individual level, low birthweight is a risk factor for physical and neurological disabilities and increased vulnerability to illness and disease throughout the lifespan.²

Since low birthweight is associated with a range or maternal and infant health factors it can be used to evaluate and improve pre and postnatal care for mothers and babies.¹ʼ²

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Mothers and Babies Reports, 2018. [cited 2018 May 16]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/mothers-babies/reports

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Mothers and Babies Overview, 2018 [cited 16 May 2018]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/mothers-babies/overview

3. Stanford Children’s Health. Palo Alto, CA. Low Birthweight. 2018 [cited 16 May 2018]. Available from: http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=low-birthweight-90-P02382

4. Goldenberg RL, Culhane JF, Iams JD, Romero R. Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth. The Lancet, 2008; 371(9606):75-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60074-4

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Midwives Notification System, Department of Health Western Australia

Numerator:

Babies (live born) weighing less than 2500 grams at birth

Denominator:

All live births

Unit of measure:

Percent (%)

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

Includes children born in Western Australia only

Indicator:

Births to mothers aged 15-19

Policy context:

Mothers aged under 20 years are classified as teenage mothers.¹ There are a range of risk factors associated with a maternal age under 20, for both mother and baby.¹

Young mothers are at a higher risk of social stigma and are more likely to experience barriers to engagement in education and employment.¹ʼ² They are also more likely to live in areas with low socioeconomic status, as well as in remote or regional areas.¹ʼ³ Teenage mothers tend to have higher rates of smoking during pregnancy and diabetes.¹ʼ³ Further, the stigma and disadvantage associated with being a young mother can exacerbate the typical challenges associated with motherhood.²

The higher incidence of disadvantage and social stigma experienced by mothers of this age group is associated with a range of negative health consequences for both mother and baby.¹ʼ²ʼ³ Babies born to teenage mothers are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality.¹ They are more likely to be born pre-term and low birthweight for gestational age and to have poorer ongoing emotional, behavioural and cognitive outcomes than their peers.¹

Though not all teenage pregnancies are unintended, many are in Australia.³ Therefore, rates of teenage pregnancy are also related to sexual education and contraceptive use.³

The combination of these factors means that understanding teenage pregnancy rates by region has important implications for policy in a range of fields including clinical care, health promotion and education.²ʼ³ For example, prior policy recommendations regarding supporting teenage mothers and preventing unintended pregnancies include providing sufficient health education, reducing stigma and, ensuring non-judgemental and appropriate antenatal and postnatal care is accessible to young mothers.²ʼ³

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Teenage Mothers in Australia 2015. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/teenage-mothers-in-australia-2015/contents/table-of-contents

2. McArthur M, Barry E. Younger mothers: Stigma and support. ACU Canberra: Institute of Child Protection Studies Research to Practice Series. 2018; 3.

3. Marino J, Lewis L, Bateson D, Hickey M, Skinner S. Teenage mothers. Australian Family Physician, 2016; 45(10):712. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2016/october/teenage-mothers/

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Midwives Notification System, Department of Health Western Australia

Numerator:

Number of live births to mothers aged 13-19 years

Denominator:

All live births

Unit of measure:

Percent (%)

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

Includes children born in Western Australia only.

Indicator:

Births to mothers aged 20-24

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Midwives Notification System, Department of Health Western Australia

Numerator:

Number of live births to mothers aged 20-24 years

Denominator:

All live births

Unit of measure:

Percent (%)

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

Includes children born in Western Australia only.

Indicator:

Preterm births (<37 weeks or <39 weeks)

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Midwives Notification System, Department of Health Western Australia

Numerator:

Babies born alive (<37 weeks or <39 weeks)

Denominator:

All live births

Unit of measure:

Percent (%)

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality

Notes:

Includes children born in Western Australia only.

Indicator:

Mothers who smoked tobacco at any time during pregnancy

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Midwives Notification System, Department of Health Western Australia

Numerator:

Mothers who smoked tobacco at any time during pregnancy

Denominator:

All live births

Unit of measure:

Percent (%)

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

Includes children born in Western Australia only.