BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (Dec 2012)

Under-reporting of birth registrations in New South Wales, Australia

  • Xu Fenglian,
  • Sullivan Elizabeth A,
  • Black Deborah A,
  • Jackson Pulver Lisa R,
  • Madden Richard C

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-147
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
p. 147

Abstract

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Abstract Background To determine the rates of birth registration over a five-year period in New South Wales (NSW) and explore the factors associated with the rate of registration. Methods This is a cross-sectional study using linked population databases. The study population included all births of NSW residents in NSW between 2001 and 2005. Results Birth registration rates in NSW were 82.66% in the year of birth, 93.19% in the first year, 94.02% in the second, 94.56% in the third and 95.08% in the fourth year after birth. The non-registration of births was mainly associated with such factors as neonatal and postneonatal death (adjusted OR = 3.84, 95% CI: 3.23-4.57); being Indigenous (adjusted OR = 3.26, 95% CI: 3.10-3.43); maternal age 39 years (adjusted OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 2.72-2.90); low birthweight ( Conclusion Of birth in NSW, 4.92% were not registered by the fourth year after birth.

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