Indicator development background
Reporting and development of the NCMIs sit under the National Maternity Data Development Project, which aims to develop nationally consistent and comprehensive maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity data collections in Australia. Expert advice on and review of the NCMIs are provided by the National Maternity Data Development Project Advisory Group and the National Perinatal Data Development Committee.
The basis of the NCMIs reported on by the AIHW are indicators proposed by the Maternity Services Inter-Jurisdictional Committee of the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council. Indicators were developed in consultation with an expert working group, building on the Core Maternity Indicators developed by the Department of Health, Western Australia and Women’s Healthcare Australasia. A list of 20 national indicators, 10 of which could be reported on using available data, were agreed upon and referred to the AIHW for reporting and development in 2012.
Reporting of the initial 10 NCMIs, utilising the AIHW National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC), commenced in 2013 (AIHW NPESU and AIHW 2013). Further development work has been undertaken with the expansion of reported indicators and the inclusion of an additional indicator (Indicator 21). For more information see:
- Foundations for enhanced maternity data collection and reporting in Australia: National maternity data development project - Stage 1
- National core maternity indicators—stage 2 report: 2007–2011
- National Core Maternity Indicators stage 3 and 4 results from 2010–2013.
There are currently 13 NCMIs reported on. The AIHW will undertake further development of the NCMIs, particularly in response to changes in evidence, policy, service provision or clinical practice. Table 4 outlines the status of each indicator.
Indicator | Current status |
|---|---|
1. Tobacco smoking in pregnancy for all women giving birth | Reported 2011 onwards |
2. Antenatal care visits in the first trimester for all women giving birth | Reported 2011 onwards |
3. Episiotomy for women giving birth for the first time and giving birth vaginally | Reported 2004 onwards |
4. Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes for births at or after term | Reported 2004 onwards |
5. Induction of labour for selected women giving birth for the first time | Reported 2004 onwards |
6. Caesarean section for selected women giving birth for the first time | Reported 2004 onwards |
7. Non-instrumental vaginal birth for selected women giving birth for the first time | Reported 2004 onwards |
8. Instrumental vaginal birth for selected women giving birth for the first time | Reported 2004 onwards |
9. General anaesthetic for women giving birth by caesarean section | Reported 2007 onwards |
10. Babies weighing less than the third centile among births at or after 40 weeks gestation | Reported 2004 onwards |
11. High-risk women undergoing caesarean section who receive appropriate pharmacological thromboprophylaxis | Not to be reported – recommended no further development at this time |
12. Babies born at or after 37 completed weeks of gestation admitted to a neonatal intensive care nursery or special care nursery for reasons other than congenital anomaly | Not to be reported – no data currently available |
13. Third and fourth degree tears for vaginal births | Reported 2013 onwards |
14. Major primary postpartum blood loss for all females giving birth | Reported 2020 onwards |
15. Women having their second birth vaginally whose first birth was by caesarean section | Reported 2007 onwards |
16. Separation of baby from the mother after birth for additional care | Not to be reported – recommended no further development at this time |
17. One-to-one care in labour | Not to be reported – recommended no further development at this time |
18. Caesarean sections at less than 39 completed weeks of gestation (273 days) without obstetric/medical indication | Under development |
19. Supporting breastfeeding | Not to be reported – recommended no further development at this time |
20. Models of care | Under development |
21. Skin-to-skin contact after birth | Not to be reported – recommended no further development at this time |
AIHW NPESU (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit) and AIHW (2013). National core maternity indicators, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 6 June 2023.