Spatial variation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's access to 4 types of maternal health services
Publication
Release Date:
Topic: First Nations people
Citation
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2017) Spatial variation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's access to 4 types of maternal health services, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 10 June 2026.
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This report examines spatial variation in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's access to hospitals with public birthing units and 3 other types of maternal health services. It also investigates possible high-level associations between access, maternal risk factors and birth outcomes.
- ISBN: 978-1-76054-238-2
- Cat. no: IHW 187
- Pages: 64
Findings from this report:
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The lowest levels of access to maternal health services are in Remote and Very Remote areas
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In 5 geographic areas, over 50% of Indigenous women aged 15–44 have no maternal health service within a 1 hour drive
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Over 25,000 Indigenous women aged 15–44 live more than a 1 hour’s drive to a public birthing unit
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Poorer access to maternal health services is associated with higher rates of pre-term birth and low birthweight