Interactive graphs and data
Data show variation in rates by state or territory. To use the interactive graphs hover or click on graphs for details of data points. Learn more about using the interactive Atlas.
Early planned births are when babies are born before 39 weeks of pregnancy by planned caesarean section or induced labour. Find out about early planned births in the Fourth Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation 2021.
Data show variation in rates by state or territory. To use the interactive graphs hover or click on graphs for details of data points. Learn more about using the interactive Atlas.
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About the data - Induction of labour without medical or obstetric indication
A number of limitations with this indicator should be noted.
Data on the reason for early planned birth (by any method) are not available at the national level. Therefore this indicator uses data collected on the reason for induction as a proxy measure for early planned birth.
Differences exist between states and territories in definitions and methods used for collection of data on the main reasons for induction. For this reason, data are not comparable across states and territories.
Some state and territory health departments found in their review of data that recording of the main reason for caesarean section was not always updated as the clinical situation evolved. For example, medical or obstetric indications for early birth, such as fetal compromise, were not always recorded as the main indication for early caesarean section if a caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. Similarly, clinical events such as pre-labour rupture of membranes may lead to an unplanned early caesarean section, but these were not always recorded if the caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. This means that the count of planned caesarean sections performed before 39 weeks without medical or obstetric indication is an overestimate for some states. This may also apply to the recording of the reason for induction of labour.
The numerator for this indicator is induction of labour ‘without medical or obstetric indication’ at less than 39 completed weeks gestation for the following reasons:
The denominator is the total number of women who gave birth following induction of labour at less than 39 completed weeks gestation.
Data are sourced from the National Perinatal Data Collection, which includes births that occur in hospitals, birth centres and the community (such as home births), for patients with public or private elected accommodation status. Because of small numbers, data are reported only at the state and territory level. Reporting by smaller geographical area, remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage is not possible.
Data were available for publication for six states and territories for the induction of labour indicator. Nationally, there were 37,278 inductions before 39 weeks gestation without established labour (denominator for this indicator) in 2017. Of these, 26,992 inductions (72.4%) were from the six reporting states and territories; 10,286 (27.6%) were from other states and territories and are not included in the analysis.
//viz.aihw.gov.au/t/Public/views/Perinatalindicators_updated/publicprivate?:iid=1&:isGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y&:embed=y
//viz.aihw.gov.au/t/Public/views/Perinatalindicators_updated/Indigenousstatus?:iid=1&:isGuestRedirectFromVizportal=y&:embed=y
About the data - Induction of labour without medical or obstetric indication
A number of limitations with this indicator should be noted.
Data on the reason for early planned birth (by any method) are not available at the national level. Therefore this indicator uses data collected on the reason for induction as a proxy measure for early planned birth.
Differences exist between states and territories in definitions and methods used for collection of data on the main reasons for induction. For this reason, data are not comparable across states and territories.
Some state and territory health departments found in their review of data that recording of the main reason for caesarean section was not always updated as the clinical situation evolved. For example, medical or obstetric indications for early birth, such as fetal compromise, were not always recorded as the main indication for early caesarean section if a caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. Similarly, clinical events such as pre-labour rupture of membranes may lead to an unplanned early caesarean section, but these were not always recorded if the caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. This means that the count of planned caesarean sections performed before 39 weeks without medical or obstetric indication is an overestimate for some states. This may also apply to the recording of the reason for induction of labour.
The numerator for this indicator is induction of labour ‘without medical or obstetric indication’ at less than 39 completed weeks gestation for the following reasons:
The denominator is the total number of women who gave birth following induction of labour at less than 39 completed weeks gestation.
Data are sourced from the National Perinatal Data Collection, which includes births that occur in hospitals, birth centres and the community (such as home births), for patients with public or private elected accommodation status. Because of small numbers, data are reported only at the state and territory level. Reporting by smaller geographical area, remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage is not possible.
Data were available for publication for six states and territories for the induction of labour indicator. Nationally, there were 37,278 inductions before 39 weeks gestation without established labour (denominator for this indicator) in 2017. Of these, 26,992 inductions (72.4%) were from the six reporting states and territories; 10,286 (27.6%) were from other states and territories and are not included in the analysis.
About the data - Induction of labour without medical or obstetric indication
A number of limitations with this indicator should be noted.
Data on the reason for early planned birth (by any method) are not available at the national level. Therefore this indicator uses data collected on the reason for induction as a proxy measure for early planned birth.
Differences exist between states and territories in definitions and methods used for collection of data on the main reasons for induction. For this reason, data are not comparable across states and territories.
Some state and territory health departments found in their review of data that recording of the main reason for caesarean section was not always updated as the clinical situation evolved. For example, medical or obstetric indications for early birth, such as fetal compromise, were not always recorded as the main indication for early caesarean section if a caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. Similarly, clinical events such as pre-labour rupture of membranes may lead to an unplanned early caesarean section, but these were not always recorded if the caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. This means that the count of planned caesarean sections performed before 39 weeks without medical or obstetric indication is an overestimate for some states. This may also apply to the recording of the reason for induction of labour.
The numerator for this indicator is induction of labour ‘without medical or obstetric indication’ at less than 39 completed weeks gestation for the following reasons:
The denominator is the total number of women who gave birth following induction of labour at less than 39 completed weeks gestation.
Data are sourced from the National Perinatal Data Collection, which includes births that occur in hospitals, birth centres and the community (such as home births), for patients with public or private elected accommodation status. Because of small numbers, data are reported only at the state and territory level. Reporting by smaller geographical area, remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage is not possible.
Data were available for publication for six states and territories for the induction of labour indicator. Nationally, there were 37,278 inductions before 39 weeks gestation without established labour (denominator for this indicator) in 2017. Of these, 26,992 inductions (72.4%) were from the six reporting states and territories; 10,286 (27.6%) were from other states and territories and are not included in the analysis.
About the data - Induction of labour without medical or obstetric indication
A number of limitations with this indicator should be noted.
Data on the reason for early planned birth (by any method) are not available at the national level. Therefore this indicator uses data collected on the reason for induction as a proxy measure for early planned birth.
Differences exist between states and territories in definitions and methods used for collection of data on the main reasons for induction. For this reason, data are not comparable across states and territories.
Some state and territory health departments found in their review of data that recording of the main reason for caesarean section was not always updated as the clinical situation evolved. For example, medical or obstetric indications for early birth, such as fetal compromise, were not always recorded as the main indication for early caesarean section if a caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. Similarly, clinical events such as pre-labour rupture of membranes may lead to an unplanned early caesarean section, but these were not always recorded if the caesarean section had already been planned for other reasons. This means that the count of planned caesarean sections performed before 39 weeks without medical or obstetric indication is an overestimate for some states. This may also apply to the recording of the reason for induction of labour.
The numerator for this indicator is induction of labour ‘without medical or obstetric indication’ at less than 39 completed weeks gestation for the following reasons:
The denominator is the total number of women who gave birth following induction of labour at less than 39 completed weeks gestation.
Data are sourced from the National Perinatal Data Collection, which includes births that occur in hospitals, birth centres and the community (such as home births), for patients with public or private elected accommodation status. Because of small numbers, data are reported only at the state and territory level. Reporting by smaller geographical area, remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage is not possible.
Data were available for publication for six states and territories for the induction of labour indicator. Nationally, there were 37,278 inductions before 39 weeks gestation without established labour (denominator for this indicator) in 2017. Of these, 26,992 inductions (72.4%) were from the six reporting states and territories; 10,286 (27.6%) were from other states and territories and are not included in the analysis.