Dimension 1: Health
All
Outcome
Young South Australians are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy
Indicator
Babies are born healthy
Birthweight
The average birthweight in South Australia (SA) in 2021 was 3,336 grams.
Of 20,037 live births of babies born in SA, 6.7% were of low birthweight in 2021 (6.8% in 2017).
Data Source: AIHW analysis of the National Perinatal Data Collection
Pre-term births
The percentage of pre-term births (birth prior to 37 weeks gestation) was 9% in 2021 (9.6% in 2017). Nationally, the percentage of pre-term births was 8.2% in 2021 (8.7% in 2017).
Data Source: AIHW analysis of the National Perinatal Data Collection
Smoking in pregnancy
The percentage of pregnant women who smoked in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy in SA was 7.2% in 2021 (11.3% in 2017). This rate has been declining since 2017.
Nationally the percentage was 8.3% in 2021 (9.5% in 2017).
Data Source: Pregnancy Outcomes Unit, SA Health and AIHW analysis of the National Perinatal Data Collection
Age when giving birth
The average age of mothers giving birth in South Australia is approximately 30.7 years.
In 2021, the percentage of women under 20 years at the time of giving birth, made up 1.4% of all women who gave birth in SA (2.2% in 2017). This rate has declined to its lowest point since 2017, both nationally and in SA.
Data Source: Pregnancy Outcomes Unit, SA Health and AIHW analysis of the National Perinatal Data Collection.
Antenatal visits
In 2021, 83.9% of women expecting a baby attended a first antenatal visit in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy (83.1% in 2017).
Nationally, the percentage was 79.6% in 2021 (72% in 2017).
Data Source: Pregnancy Outcomes Unit, SA Health and AIHW analysis of the National Perinatal Data Collection