Indicator: Low Birth Weight

Status:

What we know from research

What the data indicates about Mildura
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
Low birth weight is a strong risk factor for infant mortality and varies by social class. A decline in social status, the level of parental education (especially that of mothers), living in economically deprived areas, diminished support networks, the timing of pre-natal care and community unemployment rates are among the factors implicated in the occurrence of low weight babies. Studies that have focused on community level social phenomena show the contribution of a cluster of variables subsumed by the term economic hardship to the occurrence of low birth weight deliveries. Low per capita incomes, unemployment, and indicators of social class generally, environmental stressors and poor housing conditions are among the predisposing factors. Across Australia an Aboriginal woman is twice as likely (12.4%) to have a low birth weight baby compared to a non-Aboriginal woman (6.2%).
Red Cliffs and Rest of Wentworth have slightly elevated rates of low weight babies compared with the Victorian and Australian averages and Ouyen (with approximately 3.0% of births of low weight) has a decidedly low rate. Mildura Central, Merbein and Irymple fall on the right side of the state and national averages.

RATE OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHTS (<2,500 GMS.) PER 1,000 BIRTHS ACROSS MILDURA’S SUBREGIONS
Source: Department of Human Services Perinatal Data Collection Unit Unpublished Data

Legend
	Upward trend			Progress away from desired direction
	Downward trend
	No observable trend		Progress towards desired direction
	Under construction

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 6 February 2007