Australia's mothers and babies

This section focuses on mothers who gave birth when they were aged under 20 and their babies.

For many young people, becoming a parent can be a positive and maturing experience (AIHW 2020). However, mothers aged under 20 are more likely to experience broader disadvantage, and can have higher rates of behavioural risk factors, such as smoking during pregnancy (AIHW 2018). While most babies born to mothers aged under 20 have positive health outcomes, they are more likely to be pre-term, low birthweight and experience higher morbidity and mortality (AIHW 2018; Diabelková et al. 2023).

Mothers who gave birth aged under 20

In 2023, mothers who gave birth aged under 20 accounted for 1.6% (4,504) of all mothers. This proportion has more than halved since 2010 (3.8%, 11,370).

Figure 1 presents trend data for mothers who gave birth aged under 20, by selected maternal characteristics, between 2010 (or earliest available year of data) and 2023.

The proportion of mothers aged under 20 accessing antenatal care in the first trimester has risen over time, from 46% in 2013 to a high of 68% in 2020 and 2021; there has been a slight decrease in recent years (66% in 2023). In 2023, most mothers aged under 20 had more than 5 antenatal visits (90%), which has been relatively stable since 2018 (90%).

Mothers aged under 20 have high smoking rates, with around 3 in 10 (29%) reporting smoking at any time during pregnancy in 2023, however this rate has fallen over time (from 36% in 2011).

Although mothers aged under 20 are more likely to have spontaneous onset of labour, this rate has fallen considerably over time (from 69% in 2010 to 50% in 2023) with a corresponding increase in induced labour onset (from 25% in 2010 to 41% in 2023). Over the same period, the rate of caesarean sections has increased (from 18% in 2010 to 23% in 2023) with a corresponding decrease in non-instrumental vaginal births (from 70% in 2010 to 63% in 2023). 

Mothers aged under 20 experience differences in relation to maternal characteristics, health behaviours and outcomes – and perinatal outcomes – when compared to the overall population of Australian mothers and babies. These differences can be explored when viewing Maternal age at the chapter or topic level throughout this report.

Babies born to mothers aged under 20

In 2023, babies born to mothers aged under 20 accounted for 1.6% (4,546) of all births. This proportion has more than halved since 2010 (3.8%, 11,455). 

Figure 2 presents trend data for babies born to women who gave birth aged under 20, by selected baby characteristics, between 2010 (or earliest available year of data) and 2023.

In 2023, while most babies born to mothers aged under 20 were born at term (born from 37 to 41 weeks), they were more likely to be born pre-term than for any other maternal age-group. Since 2010, the proportion born at term has decreased (89% in 2010, 87% in 2023), with a corresponding increase in the proportion born pre-term (10% in 2010, 13% in 2023).

Most babies born to mothers aged under 20 had a normal birthweight (birthweight between 2,500 and 4,499 grams; also referred to as 'healthy birthweight') in 2023, however, they were more likely to be born at a low birthweight than for any other maternal age-group. Since 2010, the proportion born at a normal birthweight has decreased (90% in 2010, 88% in 2023), with a corresponding increase in the proportion born at a low birthweight (8% in 2010, 12% in 2023).

The most common length of stay in hospital has changed over time. The majority of babies born to mothers aged under 20 had a hospital stay of 3 days or less in 2023 (80%). Since 2010, the proportions of babies staying 2 to 3 days and 4 to 5 days have decreased (from 53% in 2010 to 46% in 2023; and 16% in 2010 to 10% in 2023, respectively), while the proportions staying less than 1 day or 1 day have increased (from 3.4% in 2010 to 5.6% in 2023; and 18% in 2010 to 29% in 2023, respectively).

1 in 4 babies (25%) born to mothers aged under 20 required active resuscitation, which has increased since 2019 (22%). Almost 1 in 4 babies needed admission to SCN/NICU, which has increased since 2010 (from 19% to 24%, with a peak of 26% in 2018).