Indigenous status
There is considerable underreporting of aboriginality in the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit (VPDCU), as in other data sets (refer to Koori Health reports17). When compared to non-Indigenous births, the data we have demonstrate differences in maternal age (21% of births to women younger than 20 years), method of birth (more spontaneous) and birthweight (15% less than 2500gms).
5.1 Numbers
Table 5.1: Trends in Births and Confinements to Indigenous Women, 1985-2004
|
Number
|
1985 n=61,189
|
1990 n=66,878
|
1995 n=63,717
|
2000 n=62,555
|
2001 n=62,105
|
2002 n=63,074
|
2003 n=63,450
|
2004 n=63,503
|
|
Births |
323
|
436
|
423
|
380
|
419
|
421
|
372
|
435
|
|
Percent |
0.5
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
|
Confinements |
321
|
429
|
417
|
376
|
414
|
416
|
364
|
431
|
|
Percent |
0.5
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
- The proportion of Indigenous confinements and births, as reported on the Perinatal Morbidity Statistics Form, has remained stable (between 0.6% to 0.7%) since 1990.