Summary

This inaugural report uses a set of reproductive health indicators to provide a synthesis of findings on a broad range of reproductive health topics. The set of indicators adopted for this report provides an overall ‘picture’ of Australia’s reproductive health and highlights a number of important emerging reproductive health issues and trends. An assessment of the data sources currently available to measure reproductive health in Australia is also provided, setting the agenda for the formation of a comprehensive framework and integrated national surveillance system for Australia’s reproductive health. This report will no doubt be an important reference for clinicians, policy makers and consumers alike. 

Reproductive health is of central importance to people’s lives and is fundamental to what it means to be human. The importance of reproductive health is being increasingly recognised at an individual, societal and global level. The issues it encompasses are different for men and women and change over a person’s lifetime. Definitions of reproductive health vary, but for the purposes of this report, encompass the reproductive and sexual health of men and women during their reproductive lives, and includes reproductive outcomes such as fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and diseases of the reproductive tract. In this report reproductive health is also reflected and measured by the physiological, behavioural and health-care factors that are important determinants of reproductive health. 

The primary objectives of this inaugural report on Australian reproductive health indicators are:

  • to provide a snapshot of Australia’s reproductive health status, by systematically measuring a set of reproductive health indicators. This enables risk and protective factors relevant to reproductive health to be highlighted, and provides a basis from which international and sub-population comparisons can be made; 
  • to provide base lines for prospective measurement and monitoring of Australia’s reproductive health. The indicators presented in this report will act as a benchmark against which future analyses of reproductive health will be measured;
  • to provide a comprehensive and cohesive description of currently available information sources for measuring Australia’s reproductive health. An assessment of the usefulness and value of each data source is provided, and further information requirements explored; 
  • to provide a foundation from which a comprehensive conceptual and information framework on reproductive health can be developed.