Since 2018, the percentage of babies born prematurely (less than 37 weeks gestation) to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers in NSW has increased slightly from 11.1% in 2018 to 11.9% in 2022. By comparison, the percentage of premature babies born to non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers in NSW has decreased slightly from 7.5% in 2018 to 7.0% in 2022.
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.
