Infant factors
Page content: 3.1 Sex | 3.2 Gestation
- There were more male babies born than females, 51% compared with 49%.
- The proportion of pre-term births (<37 wks) in 2003-2004 was 7.8% while 1.2% of births were post-term (≥42 wks).
- There has been an increase in the proportion of low birthweight babies (<2,500gm), from 5.5% in 1985 to 6.9% in 2003-2004.
- The average birthweight of male babies in 2004 was 3,419 grams and of female babies was 3,302 grams.
- 99.0% of babies are liveborn and survive the neonatal period (28 days).
- One third of babies require suction and/or oxygen at birth, and 60% require no method of resuscitation.
3.1 Sex
Table 3.2: Discharge Status by Sex of Infants, All Births, Pooled Data, 2003-2004
|
Sex
|
Stillbirth
|
Rate n/1,000
|
Neonatal Death
|
Rate n/1,000
|
Survived >28 days
|
Rate n/1,000
|
Total
|
|
Male |
437
|
6.7
|
265
|
4.1
|
64,351
|
989.2
|
65,053
|
|
Female |
400
|
6.5
|
178
|
2.9
|
61,299
|
990.7
|
61,877
|
|
Indeterminate |
2
|
250
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
750
|
8
|
|
Total* |
839
|
6.6
|
443
|
3.5
|
125,656
|
989.9
|
126,938
|
- There are slightly higher rates of male stillbirths and neonatal deaths than female stillbirths and neonatal deaths
3.2 Gestation
Figure 3.1: Trends in Pre-Term Births (‹37wks) and Post-Term Births (≥ 42wks), 1985-2004
|
Percent
|
||||||||
|
1985
|
1990
|
1995
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
|
|
‹ 37 weeks
|
6.0
|
6.7
|
7.1
|
7.6
|
7.5
|
7.8
|
7.8
|
7.8
|
|
≥ 42 weeks
|
3.8
|
4.5
|
2.9
|
1.3
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
- The proportion of pre-term births has remained stable between 7.6% to 7.8% since 2000 after a gradual rise from 6% in 1985.
- The proportion of pregnancies continuing to 42 weeks and beyond is stable (1.2%), and is approximately one quarter of the rate in 1990.
Figure 3.2: Trends in Low Birthweight (<2,500g) and Very Low Birthweight (<1,500g) as a Proportion of All Births, 1985-2004
|
Percent
|
||||||||
|
1985
|
1990
|
1995
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
|
|
LBW
|
5.5
|
6.0
|
6.5
|
6.7
|
6.7
|
7.0
|
6.9
|
6.8
|
|
VLBW
|
1.1
|
1.2
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
1.6
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
- The proportion of low birthweight (< 2,500g) and very low birthweight babies (< 1,500g) has steadily risen since 1985, increasing from 5.5% and 1.0% respectively to a peak of 7.0% and 1.6% in 2002, with a slight decline in 2003-2004.