Reproductive experiences and outcomes among a representative sample of women: the second Australian study of health and relationships

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Richters, Juliet, Carter, Allison, Caruana, Theresa, Bateson, Deborah, De Visser, Richard de, Rissel, Chris, Yeung, Anna, Guy, Rebecca and McGeechan, Kevin (2021) Reproductive experiences and outcomes among a representative sample of women: the second Australian study of health and relationships. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. pp. 1-6. ISSN 1326-0200

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Abstract

Objective: To enumerate pregnancy outcomes for a representative sample of women in Australia surveyed in 2012–2013 (primary aim) and compare these with women surveyed in 2001–2002 (secondary aim).

Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews with over 10,000 women aged 16–69 years (participation rate 68.4%). Results are weighted for chance of selection and to reflect the population as a whole.

Results: Of women with experience of vaginal intercourse, 75.1% had ever been pregnant, 18.4% reported difficulties getting pregnant and 10.0% had had fertility treatment. Of those who had been pregnant, 91.3% had ever had a live birth, 34.3% a miscarriage, 22.8% an abortion and 2.3% a stillbirth; 0.9% had relinquished a child for adoption. The proportion first pregnant in their 30s was 11% among women aged 60–69 and 26% among those aged 40–49. Fewer older women reported difficulties getting pregnant. Of the 21,882 pregnancies reported, 70% led to live births and 10% were terminated. Compared with our 2001–2002 survey, fewer women reported ever having been pregnant. Giving up newborns for adoption has become very rare.

Conclusions: Falling fertility since the 1960s reflects greater access to contraception and abortion and higher opportunity costs of childbearing.

Implications for public health: These findings on women's lifetime reproductive experiences complement routine annual data collections.

Item Type: Article
Schools and Departments: Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Primary Care and Public Health
SWORD Depositor: Mx Elements Account
Depositing User: Mx Elements Account
Date Deposited: 18 Aug 2021 07:13
Last Modified: 05 Oct 2021 11:15
URI: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/101169

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