Smoking in pregnancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers

​​​​​On this page

  1. Overview
  2. Smoking in pregnancy, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers, NSW 2018–2022
  3. Smoking in the second half of pregnancy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers by amount smoked and local health district of residence, NSW 2022 ​​​
  4. Downloads
  5. Notes
  6. Related links

Overview

In 2022, 39.6% of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth in NSW reported smoking at anytime during pregnancy, compared to 43.2% in 2018. This compares with 6.1% of non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth in NSW in 2022 reporting smoking at anytime during pregnancy.

​Smoking in the second half of pregnancy poses the greatest risk to the health of both mother and baby. In 2022, 29.0% of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth in NSW reported smoking in the second half of pregnancy. This percentage varied from 16.2% in the Northern Sydney Local Health District to 47.5% in the Far West Local Health District.​

Smoking in pregnancy, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers, NSW 2018–2022

By number of births

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Smoking in pregnancy20182019202020212022
Did not smoke23632491259229472936
Smoked18221909188019861952
Not stated2816349038
Total42134416450650234926

Non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Smoking in pregnancy20182019202020212022
Did not smoke8189681912792078471778567
Smoked67256327598157695137
Not stated10507187631356753
Total8967188957859519184284457

By percentage of births

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Smoking in pregnancy20182019202020212022
Did not smoke56.156.457.558.759.6
Smoked43.243.241.739.539.6
Not stated0.70.40.81.80.8
Total100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0

Non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander​ mothers

Smoking in pregnancy20182019202020212022
Did not smoke91.392.192.292.293.0
Smoked7.57.17.06.36.1
Not stated1.20.80.91.50.9
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 3,629 mothers where the mother’s Aboriginality was not stated.

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