Ruqayyah Snyder
Infant mortality rates are a key indicator of a country's overall health and well-being. Defined as the number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births, these rates vary across the globe. Australia, like other countries, closely monitors its infant mortality rate, with data available on deaths, year of occurrence, age at death, sex, and state or territory. While the infant mortality rate in Australia for 2023 was 911 deaths, a decrease from previous years, it is important to delve into the specific rates for different regions and communities to gain a comprehensive understanding of the country's overall health status.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births |
| Infant deaths in 2023 | 911 |
| Data availability | Year of occurrence, age at death, sex, states, territories, indigenous status |
| Reporting agencies | Australian Bureau of Statistics, World Bank, UNICEF, WHO, UN DESA Population Division |
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What You'll Learn
How is infant mortality rate calculated?
Infant mortality rate is an important marker of the overall health of a society. It is the probability of a child dying before reaching the age of one, if they are subject to the age-specific mortality rates of that period. It is expressed as a rate per 1,000 live births.
The infant mortality rate is calculated using the number of deaths of children under 1 year of age registered during a calendar year, per 1,000 live births in the same period. This can be calculated using civil registration data, census and surveys, or household surveys. Civil registration data uses the number of deaths at age 0 and the population for the same age to calculate the death rate, which is then converted into an age-specific probability of dying. Census and surveys use an indirect method, asking each woman of reproductive age how many children she has given birth to and how many are still alive. Household surveys use a direct method, asking detailed questions about each child a woman has given birth to.
The Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) produces trends in infant mortality rates with standardised methodology by groups of countries, depending on the type and quality of the source data available. For countries with sufficient data from civil registration, infant mortality rates are derived from a standard period abridged life table. For countries with survey data, infant mortality is derived from the projection of under-five mortality rates, converted into infant mortality rates using the Bayesian B-splines bias-adjusted model.
In Australia, there were 911 infant deaths in 2023, a decrease of 47 deaths from the previous year.
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How does Australia's infant mortality rate compare to other countries?
Australia's infant mortality rate has been decreasing over the years. In 2022, the infant mortality rate was 2.81 per 1,000 live births, which decreased to 2.73 in 2023. This is a decline of 2.67% from the previous year. The infant mortality rate further decreased in 2024 to 2.68.
In comparison to other countries, Australia's infant mortality rate is relatively low. For example, the infant mortality rate for the United States is 5.8 per 1,000 live births for the total population, and 8.1 for American Indian/Alaskan Native infants. In New Zealand, the infant mortality rate for the total population is 4.1 per 1,000 live births, and 5.7 for Māori people.
It is important to note that there are variations in data quality and methods used to collect data on infant mortality rates across different countries, so caution must be exercised when comparing data. Additionally, the rates of infant mortality vary significantly between different populations within a country. For instance, in Australia, the death rate among First Nations infants in the five jurisdictions of New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory was 5.3 per 1,000 live births during the period 2017-2021, which is 1.8 times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous infants.
Australia's overall infant and child death rates have declined over the last 100 years due to improved social and public health conditions, including improvements in sanitation and health education, the development of immunisation, and better treatment in neonatal intensive care. However, there is still a large gap in infant and child mortality rates between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people and non-Indigenous Australians, which can be attributed to the devastating impacts of colonisation and discriminatory government policies on First Nations people.
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How has Australia's infant mortality rate changed over time?
The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
In Australia, the infant mortality rate has decreased over time. In 2023, there were 911 infant deaths, a decrease of 47 from the previous year. The standardised death rate also decreased from 5.5 in 2022 to 5.1 in 2023. However, it is important to note that the data may not be directly comparable due to differences in reporting. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all children who show signs of life should be recorded as live births, but this standard is not followed in all countries, including some jurisdictions within Australia.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provides data on infant mortality rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in five jurisdictions: New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. These jurisdictions have been included as they have sufficient levels of identification and sufficient numbers of deaths to support mortality analysis.
The ABS Death Registrations collection includes all deaths that occurred and were registered in Australia, including deaths of persons with an overseas usual residence. However, there may be a lag in the registration of deaths, particularly in December, which can lead to incomplete data for that month.
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What factors influence infant mortality rates?
Australia has experienced a consistent decline in its infant mortality rate over the years, and this positive trend is influenced by various factors. As of 2022, the infant mortality rate in Australia is 3.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. This rate places Australia among the countries with the lowest infant mortality rates worldwide. Several factors influence infant mortality rates, and understanding these factors is crucial to implementing effective interventions and policies for reducing infant deaths.
One of the most significant factors is access to quality healthcare. Countries with well-developed healthcare systems, including accessible and affordable prenatal, postnatal, and emergency medical services, tend to have lower infant mortality rates. Adequate healthcare ensures better management of pregnancy complications, safe deliveries, and effective treatment of newborn health issues. This includes timely access to immunizations, treatment of infectious diseases, and management of birth defects or premature births, all of which contribute to an infant's chance of survival.
The mother's health and socioeconomic status are also critical factors. Pregnant women who receive adequate nutrition and have access to healthcare services are more likely to have healthy babies. Additionally, social factors such as education, income, and living conditions play a role. Higher levels of education and income are associated with improved health literacy, better access to healthcare, and reduced exposure to risk factors such as smoking, substance abuse, or unsafe living environments. These social determinants of health can significantly impact an infant's survival chances.
Cultural and community factors also come into play. Certain cultural beliefs and practices can influence infant care and feeding practices, impacting an infant's health and survival. Additionally, community support, or lack thereof, can affect a mother's ability to access healthcare services and adequate nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum. Social isolation or lack of community support systems can hinder a mother's ability to provide optimal care for her infant, potentially increasing the risk of mortality.
Environmental factors, such as access to clean water, safe housing, and sanitation, are equally important. Unsanitary living conditions and contaminated water supplies can lead to deadly infectious diseases in infants. Additionally, air pollution and exposure to toxic substances can increase the risk of respiratory and other health issues in infants, impacting their survival rates. Finally, the availability and implementation of public health interventions, such as vaccination programs, breastfeeding initiatives, and safe sleeping campaigns, can significantly influence infant mortality rates. These programs aim to prevent common causes of infant death and promote healthy practices among caregivers and communities.
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What is being done to reduce infant mortality rates in Australia?
Infant mortality rates in Australia have been decreasing in recent years, with a reduction of 47 deaths in 2023 compared to the previous year. This decrease can be attributed to various factors, including improvements in healthcare, social initiatives, and a focus on addressing health disparities among First Nations communities.
One successful initiative is the Pēpi-Pod® Program, which has been effective in reducing Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI), especially in First Nations communities. This program highlights the importance of culturally sensitive interventions and has resulted in a 46% decrease in infant mortality rates among First Nations populations, contributing to an overall 22% reduction in Queensland post-2014.
Australian government-funded antenatal care programs led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) have also played a significant role in improving maternal health during pregnancy. These programs address issues such as smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition, and breastfeeding practices, which can reduce the rates of low birth weight and pre-term births, thereby lowering child mortality rates.
Additionally, studies have shown that providing continuity of care for First Nations women increases their access to early antenatal care and reduces pre-term births, neonatal nursery admissions, and planned caesareans. However, the availability of these services remains limited, and more research is needed to improve their implementation in large maternity wards.
To further reduce infant mortality rates, Australian academics have emphasized the importance of improving access to contraception and family planning. By breaking the "replacement" or "insurance" effect cycle, where women who experience infant mortality are more likely to have more children, better access to contraception can empower women and help control population growth.
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Frequently asked questions
The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births. This rate is used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
The infant mortality rate for Australia in 2023 was 911, a decrease of 47 deaths from the previous year.
The world infant mortality rate in 2019 was 28 according to the United Nations, and the projected estimate for 2020 was 30.8 according to the CIA World Factbook. Australia's infant mortality rate is lower than the world average.
Factors such as healthcare access, socioeconomic status, and cultural practices can influence infant mortality rates. In Australia, there may be variations in infant mortality rates between different states, territories, and Indigenous communities.
