Indicator 5.9 Women who smoked during pregnancy

Overview

In 2018, 44% of Indigenous mothers smoked at any time during their pregnancy. A higher proportion of Indigenous mothers had smoked tobacco during their pregnancy than non-Indigenous mothers (age-standardised percentages 45% and 11%, respectively).

Trends

Since 2010, the age-standardised proportion of Indigenous mothers who smoked at any time during their pregnancy, decreased slightly from 48% to 45% in 2018. Between 2010 and 2018, the age-standardised proportion of non-Indigenous mothers who smoked at any time during their pregnancy also decreased slightly from 15% to 11% (Fig 5.9.1).

Population groups

In 2018, proportions who smoked at any time during their pregnancy were highest among Indigenous mothers living in Remote and Very remote areas—60% of mothers in Very remote and 50% in Remote areas, compared with 38% of those living in Major cities (Figure 5.9.2).

Explore the data

5.9 Women who smoked during pregnancy, by Indigenous status, maternal age and stage of pregnancy, 2011–2018 and by selected population group, 2018

Trends figure 5.9.1 shows the slight decline in the proportion of women who smoked at any time during pregnancy between 2011 and 2018. Among Indigenous women the proportion dropped from 48% to 45% while for non-Indigenous women the proportion dropped from 15% to 11%. The trends were similar by stage of pregnancy. Among Indigenous women, the proportion who smoked at any time during pregnancy declined across this period for all age groups with the exception of those aged 35–39, where the proportion remained unchanged at around 45%. Proportions dropped across all age groups for non-Indigenous women.

Population group figure 5.9.2 shows the proportion of women who smoked during pregnancy was similar by maternal age among Indigenous women (between 42% and 46%) yet varied among non-Indigenous women from 27.5% of those aged less than 20 to 5.8% of those aged 40 and over. Among Indigenous women, the proportion who smoked during pregnancy increased with the level of remoteness from 38% in Major cities to 60% in Very remote areas. Proportions among non-Indigenous women were lower in Major cities (10%) than both Inner and Outer regional areas (16%) and Remote areas (12%). Among the states and territories, the proportion of Indigenous women who smoked during pregnancy ranged from 58% in the Northern Territory to 42% in Victoria. Among non-Indigenous women, proportions ranged from 19% in Tasmania to 8% in the Australian Capital Territory. Proportions for some states and territories were not published due to small numbers.

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Indicator 5.9 data specifications

 

Definition

Data source

Numerator

Number of Indigenous mothers who reported that they smoked during pregnancy.

AIHW National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC)

Denominator

Number of Indigenous mothers.

AIHW NPDC