Birthweight (PI01 and PI02)

Indicators related to birthweight in the national Key Performance Indicators (nKPI) collection are:

  • birthweight recorded (PI01): the proportion of First Nations babies born within the previous 12 months who attended the organisation more than once and whose birthweight was recorded
  • birthweight result (PI02): the proportion of First Nations babies born within the previous 12 months who attended the organisation more than once and whose birthweight result was low, normal or high.

There have been changes to the specifications of these indicators over time. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.

Why birthweight is important

Birthweight is a key indicator of a baby’s immediate health and a determinant of their future health. Low birthweight babies (less than 2,500 grams), for example, are more likely to die in infancy or to be at increased risk of illness in infancy. Measuring birthweight allows infants to be given early and suitable intervention, which can mitigate adverse outcomes.

The targets in the refreshed National Agreement on Closing the Gapinclude several aimed at children, including a target to increase the proportion of First Nations babies with a healthy birthweight to 91% by 2031. The majority of babies born to First Nations mothers have a normal birthweight, however, they are less likely to do so than babies born to non-Indigenous mothers (AIHW 2022). There has been little change in this in recent years.

Birthweight recorded (PI01)

At June 2022, 77% (or around 5,800) of First Nations babies born within the previous 12 months had their birthweight recorded.  

Birthweight recorded by reporting period

Birthweight recorded, by reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous babies born in the last year whose birthweight by reporting period. There are two tabs with different time periods:

  • June 2021 to June 2022
  • June 2017 to December 2020
  • June 2017 to June 2022

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Notes

  1. In June 2021, specifications changed for this indicator. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.
  2. See Technical notes for more information, including on interpreting changes over time.

 

Recording of birthweight was highest in:

  • South Australia (90%)
  • Inner regional areas (87%)
  • organisations other than Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (non-ACCHOs) (85%).

Birthweight recorded by reporting period and state/territory or remoteness or organisation type

Birthweight recorded, by either state/territory, remoteness or organisation type, reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous babies born in the last year whose birthweight was recorded for either:

  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT, Australia)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote, Australia)
  • organisation type (ACCHO, non-ACCHO, Total).

Reporting periods of either June 2017, December 2017, June 2018, December 2018, June 2019, December 2019, June 2020, December 2020, June 2021, December 2021, or June 2022 can be selected.

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Archived content.

Notes

  1. In June 2021, specifications changed for this indicator. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.
  2. See Technical notes for more information, including on interpreting changes over time.

Birthweight result (PI02)

At June 2022, 86% (or around 5,000) of First Nations babies born within the previous year had a healthy (normal) birthweight.

Birthweight result by reporting period

Birthweight result, by reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous babies born in the last year by birthweight result (select for low, normal, or high) and reporting period. There are two tabs with different time periods:

  • June 2021 to June 2022
  • June 2017 to December 2020
  • June 2017 to June 2022

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Notes

  1. In June 2021, specifications changed for this indicator. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.
  2. See Technical notes for more information, including on interpreting changes over time.

 

Having a healthy birthweight was highest in:

  • Victoria/Tasmania (combined) (91%)
  • Inner regional areas and Major cities (both 88%)
  • organisations other than Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (non-ACCHOs) (89%).

Birthweight result by reporting period and state/territory or remoteness or organisation type

Birthweight result, by either state/territory, remoteness or organisation type, reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous babies born in the last year by birthweight result (select for low, normal, or high) for either:

  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT, Australia)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote, Australia)
  • organisation type (ACCHO, non-ACCHO, Total).

Reporting periods of either June 2017, December 2017, June 2018, December 2018, June 2019, December 2019, June 2020, December 2020, June 2021, December 2021 and June 2022 can be selected.

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Archived content.

Notes

  1. In June 2021, specifications changed for this indicator. See Interpreting nKPI data for more information.
  2. See Technical notes for more information, including on interpreting changes over time.

Reference

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2022) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework: birthweight, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 3 January 2023.

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