A large proportion of poor birth outcomes among Aboriginal Western Australians are attributable to smoking, alcohol and substance misuse, and assault

Alison J. Gibberd; Judy M. Simpson; Jocelyn Jones; Robyn Williams; Fiona Stanley; Sandra J. Eades

doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2252-4

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A large proportion of poor birth outcomes among Aboriginal Western Australians are attributable to smoking, alcohol and substance misuse, and assault

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

A large proportion of poor birth outcomes among Aboriginal Western Australians are attributable to smoking, alcohol and substance misuse, and assault

Alison J. Gibberd, Judy M. Simpson, Jocelyn Jones, Robyn Williams, Fiona Stanley and Sandra J. Eades

BMC pregnancy and childbirth, Vol.19(1), 110

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-019-2252-4

PMCID: PMC6444570

PMID: 30940112

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Abstract

Birthweight

Preterm birth

Perinatal mortality

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Indigenous

Linked routinely-collected data

Background Aboriginal infants have poorer birth outcomes than non-Aboriginal infants. Harmful use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances is higher among Aboriginal women, as is violence, due to factors such as intergenerational trauma and poverty. We estimated the proportion of small for gestational age (SGA) births, preterm births, and perinatal deaths that could be attributed to these risks. Methods Birth, hospital, mental health, and death records for Aboriginal singleton infants born in Western Australia from 1998 to 2010 and their parents were linked. Using logistic regression with a generalized estimating equation approach, associations with birth outcomes and population attributable fractions were estimated after adjusting for demographic factors and maternal health during pregnancy. Results Of 28,119 births, 16% of infants were SGA, 13% were preterm, and 2% died perinatally. 51% of infants were exposed in utero to at least one of the risk factors and the fractions attributable to them were 37% (SGA), 16% (preterm) and 20% (perinatal death). Conclusions A large proportion of adverse outcomes were attributable to the modifiable risk factors of substance use and assault. Significant improvements in Aboriginal perinatal health are likely to follow reductions in these risk factors. These results highlight the importance of identifying and implementing risk reduction measures which are effective in, and supported by, Aboriginal women, families, and communities.

Details

Title: A large proportion of poor birth outcomes among Aboriginal Western Australians are attributable to smoking, alcohol and substance misuse, and assault
Authors/Creators: Alison J. Gibberd - The University of Melbourne
Judy M. Simpson - The University of Sydney
Jocelyn Jones - The University of Western Australia
Robyn Williams - Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Fiona Stanley - The Kids Research Institute Australia
Sandra J. Eades - The University of Melbourne
Publication Details: BMC pregnancy and childbirth, Vol.19(1), 110
Publisher: BioMed Central
Grant note: PhD scholarship / ; 1007878 / ;
Identifiers: 991005569328807891
Murdoch Affiliation: Ngangk Yira Institute for Change
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.72 Obstetrics & Gynecology; 1.72.1745 Pregnancy Medication Safety
Web Of Science research areas: Obstetrics & Gynecology
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine