Congenital anomalies in Australia

Congenital anomalies may be associated with stillbirths, neonatal and post-neonatal deaths. In 2017, most babies (90%) with a congenital anomaly were live births and survived their first year. However, nearly 1 in 10 babies with an anomaly did not live past their first birthday. Around 7% of babies born with an anomaly were stillborn and 3% died in either the neonatal period (within 28 days after birth) or the post-neonatal period (after 28 days and within one year after birth).

The proportion of babies who survived their first year varied by the type of anomaly. A smaller proportion of babies with chromosomal or nervous system anomalies survived their first year (66% and 69% of babies with these anomalies, respectively), while nearly all babies with a genital organ anomaly survived their first year (97%).

The perinatal mortality rate (stillbirths and neonatal deaths) in babies with one or more congenital anomalies was 92 per 1,000 births compared with the overall perinatal mortality rate for all babies of 9.7 per 1,000 births in 2017 (AIHW 2021).

Figure 5 shows outcomes for babies born with a congenital anomaly by type of anomaly.

Figure 5. Outcome for babies with congenital anomalies, 2017

Reference

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2021) Stillbirths and neonatal deaths in Australia 2017 and 2018, AIHW, accessed 9 May 2023.