Preterm birth is a birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation. Worldwide, about 10% of all babies are born preterm. Preterm birth contributes to lifelong disability and ongoing health issues, such as respiratory problems, neurodevelopmental delay, hearing and visual loss, and learning and behavioural problems.

Preterm birth is also a significant contributor to perinatal and neonatal mortality. In Australia, spontaneous preterm labour or rupture of membranes alone was the cause of about 35% and 34%, respectively, of neonatal mortality in 2021 and 2022, and about 40% of neonatal mortality among babies born to First Nations women in 2020–2021.

Preterm birth rates in Australia have not changed much in 20 years. Among all babies born in Australia, the preterm birth rate was 8.1% in 2004, 8.3% in 2010, and 8.4% in 2023. Among babies born to First Nations mothers, the preterm birth rate fluctuated between 13.5% in 2010 and 13.8% in 2023.
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This report, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, analyses the National Perinatal Data Collection. Findings show that strategies to reduce preterm birth should include timely access to antenatal care, elimination of smoking before or during pregnancy, prevention and/or management of pre-existing and pregnancy-induced diabetes and hypertension, and improved nutrition to optimise body weight.

Improving First Nations women’s socioeconomic circumstances and involving First Nations women in the design and delivery of antenatal care services as shown by evidence from the Birthing in Our Country (BiOC) service would also contribute to reducing preterm births.

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We're hopeful that the knowledge gained from the trials held within our PLATIPUS platform - with input from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee - will start to change these numbers, and improve the health of all babies born preterm.

Read the full report from the AIHW here.