Indigenous birth outcomes at a Victorian urban hospital, a retrospective 5-year cohort study 2010-2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Indigenous people in Australia experience higher rates of preterm birth and low birthweight than their nonindigenous counterparts. There is currently no data on these rates from Victoria, with the data coming from states with higher indigenous proportions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five years (1st January 2010-31st December 2014) of retrospective data from The Northern Hospital's (Melbourne, Victoria) database were analysed. Mothers and babies were split according to self-reported indigenous status: 13800 nonindigenous mothers, 185 indigenous mothers, 301 indigenous babies and 13843 nonindigenous babies. Primary outcomes measured were low birthweight (LBW) and preterm birth. RESULTS..