Open AccessReproductive experiences and outcomes among a representative sample of women: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships
Author(s) -
Richters Juliet,
Carter Allison,
Caruana Theresa,
Bateson Deborah,
de Visser Richard,
Rissel Chris,
Yeung Anna,
Guy Rebecca,
McGeechan Kevin
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/1753-6405.13166
Subject(s) - medicine , fertility , abortion , demography , miscarriage , pregnancy , live birth , reproductive health , population , public health , obstetrics , gynecology , family medicine , environmental health , nursing , sociology , biology , genetics
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.