Birthweight for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers

On this page

  1. Overview
  2. Birthweight, babies born to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers, NSW 2018–2022
  3. Downloads
  4. Notes
  5. Related links

Overview

In NSW, the rate of low birthweight (less than 2,500 grams) in babies born to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers was 10.7% in 2022. This is higher than the rate for babies born to non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers, which was 6.4% in 2022. In contrast, the rate of babies born in NSW weighing 4,500 grams and greater was similar in babies born to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers (1.4%) and babies born to non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers (1.0%) in 2022.​

Birthweight, babies born to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers, NSW 2018–2022

By number of births

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Birthweight (grams)20182019202020212022
Less than 1,0003839435665
1,000–1,4994243455555
1,500–2,499342398413460419
2,500–4,49937773937400944444402
4,500+6249627272
Not stated9137148
Total42704479457951015021

Non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Birthweight (grams)20182019202020212022
Less than 1,000618614605629610
1,000–1,499446470437436425
1,500–2,49950184761453747124431
2,500–4,4998373683232804468604979084
4,500+9989559521071886
Not stated175227196163129
Total9099190259871739306085565

By percentage of births

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Birthweight (grams)20182019202020212022
Less than 1,0000.90.90.91.11.3
1,000–1,4991.01.01.01.11.1
1,500–2,4998.08.99.09.08.3
2,500–4,49988.587.987.687.187.7
4,500+1.51.11.41.41.4
Not stated0.20.30.20.30.2
Total100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0

Non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Birthweight (grams)20182019202020212022
Less than 1,0000.70.70.70.70.7
1,000–1,4990.50.50.50.50.5
1,500–2,4995.55.35.25.15.2
2,500–4,49992.092.292.392.592.4
4,500+1.11.11.11.21.0
Not stated0.20.30.20.20.2
Total100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0

Downloads

Notes

Source: NSW Perinatal Data Collection (SAPHaRI). Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health.

Due to under-reporting of Aboriginal mothers to the Perinatal Data Collection, it is likely that the true numbers of mothers and babies are higher than shown. For more information refer to Estimated level of reporting. Table excludes 3,678 babies of mothers where the mother’s Aboriginality was not stated.

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Current as at: Wednesday 31 July 2024
Contact page owner: Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence