The urban-remote divide for Indigenous perinatal outcomes (original) (raw)

2007, The Medical journal of Australia

To determine whether remoteness category of residence of Indigenous women affects the perinatal outcomes of their newborn infants. A population-based study of 35 240 mothers identified as Indigenous and their 35 658 babies included in the National Perinatal Data Collection in 2001-2004. Australian Standard Geographical Classification remoteness category, birthweight, Apgar score at 5 minutes, stillbirth, gestational age and a constructed measure of perinatal outcomes of babies called "healthy baby" (live birth, singleton, 37-41 completed weeks' gestation, 2500-4499 g birthweight, and an Apgar score at 5 minutes >or= 7). The proportion of healthy babies in remote, regional and city areas was 74.9%, 77.7% and 77.6%, respectively. After adjusting for age, parity, smoking and diabetes or hypertension, babies born to mothers in remote areas were less likely to satisfy the study criteria of being a healthy baby (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.93) compared...