title: Indigenous Birth Outcomes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States - an Overview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE: To review Indigenous infant mortality, stillbirth, birth weight, and preterm birth outcomes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.  METHODS: Systematic searches of published literature and a review and assessment of existing perinatal surveillance systems were undertaken. Where possible, within country comparisons of Indigenous to non-Indigenous birth outcomes are included.  RESULTS: Indigenous/non-Indigenous infant mortality rate ratios range from 1.6 to 4.0. Stillbirth rates, where data are available, are also uniformly higher for Indigenous people. In all four countries, the disparities in Indigenous/non-Indigenous infant mortality rate ratios are most marked in the post-neonatal period. With few exceptions, the rates of leading causes of infant mortality are higher among Indigenous infants than non-Indigenous infants within all four countries. In most cases, rates of small for gestational age and preterm birth were also elevated for Indigenous compared to non-Indigenous infants.  CONCLUSIONS: There are significant disparities in Indigenous/non-Indigenous birth outcomes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. These Indigenous/non-Indigenous birth outcome disparities fit the criteria for health inequities, as they are not only unnecessary and avoidable, but also unfair and unjust.
authors: Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Smylie
authors: Sue
authors: S
authors: Crengle
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Freemantle
authors: Maile
authors: M
authors: Taualii
references: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2004 Jan;18(1):40-50
references: 14738546
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2004;63 Suppl 2:242-7
references: 15736660
references: CMAJ. 2010 Feb 23;182(3):235-42
references: 20100852
references: Lancet. 2006 May 27;367(9524):1705-7
references: 16731249
references: JAMA. 2008 Dec 24;300(24):2886-97
references: 19109117
references: Open Womens Health J. 2010 Jan 1;4:18-24
references: 22282716
references: Health Rep. 2008 Mar;19(1):7-19
references: 18457208
references: Int J Epidemiol. 2004 Dec;33(6):1252-9
references: 15319396
references: Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1988;67(3):259-64
references: 3176946
references: Lancet. 2009 Jul 4;374(9683):65-75
references: 19577695
references: Lancet. 2006 Jun 17;367(9527):2029-31
references: 16782494
references: CMAJ. 2006 Sep 12;175(6):602
references: 16966664
references: J Paediatr Child Health. 2006 Jul-Aug;42(7-8):445-51
references: 16898883
references: Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2002 Aug 28;50(12):1-28
references: 12224408
references: Open Womens Health J. 2010;4:55-61
references: 22287997
references: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003 May;57(5):344-6
references: 12700217
references: Lancet. 2006 May 27;367(9524):1775-85
references: 16731273
references: Can J Public Health. 2010 Mar-Apr;101(2):143-8
references: 20524380
references: Lancet. 2006 May 27;367(9524):1758-66
references: 16731271
references: Int J Health Serv. 1992;22(3):429-45
references: 1644507
references: Int J Circumpolar Health. 2004 Sep;63(3):251-66
references: 15526929