Skip to main content

Table 3 Comparing Indigenous mothers and newborns from two remote TE communities with other TE Remote Indigenous mothers and newborns, 2003-2005

From: A population-based investigation into inequalities amongst Indigenous mothers and newborns by place of residence in the Northern territory, Australia

Maternal and neonatal characteristics

Community 1a(n = 105)

Community 2a(n = 99)

OtherTE Remote a(n = 1,013)

Chi2or Fisher’s Test for trend

Maternal:

    

Mean maternal age in years (±SD)[95% Confidence Interval]

23.1 (±6.3) [21.9, 24.3]

24.0 (±5.8) [22.8, 25.1]

23.7 (±5.8) [23.2, 24.0]

 

Maternal age < 20 years

33.3%

27.3%

28.2%

0.521

Maternal age ≥ 35 years

8.6%

5.1%

5.4%

0.381

First pregnancy

33.3%

30.3%

31.0%

0.876

Fourth + pregnancy

28.6%

25.3%

29.5%

0.667

Less than four antenatal visits

6.7%

10.1%

9.9%

0.600

Mother reported smoking at first visit

62.9%

42.4%

55.1%

0.012

Mother reported smoking at 36 weeks

58.1%

40.4%

53.0%

0.027

Mother reported alcohol use at first visit

4.8%

<5

9.8%*

0.047

Mother reported alcohol use at 36 weeks

<5

<5

6.8%

0.05

Diabetes in pregnancyb

8.7%

10.3%

11.3%

0.879

Out-of-hospital birthc

4.8%

6.1%

4.7%

0.773

Epidural/spinal pain relief during labour

4.8%

6.1%

5.5%

0.936

Narcotics for pain relief during labour

29.5%

25.3%

20.4%

0.064

Augmented labour

29.5%

39.4%

24.9%

0.006

Induced labour

13.3%

10.1%

15.8%

0.278

Non-instrumental vaginal birthd

61.9%

64.7%

68.7%

0.286

Instrumental vaginal birth

11.4%

7.1%

5.5%

0.064

Caesarean section (CS)

26.7%

28.3%

25.8%

0.852

Emergency CS as % of all CS

85.7%

85.7%

70.9%

0.074

Fetal distress recorded

19.7%

27.1%

20.8%

0.439

Episiotomy performed

20.8%

21.1%

9.4%

<0.001

Third/fourth degree tear

<5

<5

1.9%

0.322

Mother LOS ≥ 4 days: vaginal births

50.7%

39.4%

55.2%

0.240

Mother LOS ≥ 4 days: CS births

100.0%

89.3%

91.6%

0.227

Neonatal:

    

Stillbirth (Rate per 1,000 births)

0

<5

4.9/1,000

0.152

Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes

6.7%

<5

3.7%

0.216

Newborn needed serious resuscitatione

18.1%

14.1%

11.0%

0.074

Preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation)

16.2%

15.2%

12.1%

0.374

Low birthweight (<2,500 g)

17.4%

14.1%

11.1%

0.140

Admission to special care (SC)

36.2%

28.3%

19.7%

<0.001

  1. < 5: Less than 5 counts – data not shown.
  2. a Number shown is percent unless otherwise stated.
  3. b Refers to any mention of diabetes in pregnancy, i.e., mother had either pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes recorded.
  4. c Refers to planned home-births, births at community health centres, ‘born-before-arrival’ births, births in hostels, etc.
  5. d Includes vaginal breech cases.
  6. e Refers to resuscitation with mask and bag, external cardiac massage or intubation.