Birth event—birth method, code N

Identifying and definitional attributes
Metadata item type:	Data Element
Short name:	Method of birth
METEOR identifier:	295349
Registration status:	Health, Superseded 02/08/2017
Definition:	The method of complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception in a birth event, as represented by a code.
Data Element Concept:	Birth event—birth method

Value domain attributes

Representational attributes

Representation class:

Code

Data type:

Number

Format:

Maximum character length:

Permissible values:

Value	Meaning
1	Vaginal—non-instrumental
2	Vaginal—forceps
4	Caesarean section
5	Vaginal— vacuum extraction

Supplementary values:

Value	Meaning
9	Not stated/inadequately described

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:

National Perinatal Data Development Committee

Data element attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:

In a vaginal breech with forceps to the after coming head, code as vaginal - forceps.

In a vaginal breech that has been manually rotated, code as vaginal - non-instrumental.

Where forceps/vacuum extraction are used to assist the extraction of the baby at caesarean section, code as caesarean section.

Where a hysterotomy is performed to extract the baby, code as caesarean section.

Collection methods:

In the case of multiple births, method of birth should be recorded for each baby born.

Comments:

Note: Code 3, which had a meaning in previous versions of the data standard is no longer used. As is good practice, the code will not be reused.

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:

National Perinatal Data Development Committee

Relational attributes

Related metadata references:

Implementation in Data Set Specifications:

All attributes +

Perinatal NMDS 2007-2008
Health, Superseded 05/02/2008

DSS specific attributes +
*Implementation start date:* 01/07/2007 *Implementation end date:* 30/06/2008

Perinatal NMDS 2008-2010
Health, Superseded 02/12/2009

DSS specific attributes +
*Implementation start date:* 01/07/2008 *Implementation end date:* 30/06/2010

Perinatal NMDS 2010-2011
Health, Superseded 21/12/2010

DSS specific attributes +
*Implementation start date:* 01/07/2010 *Implementation end date:* 30/06/2011 *DSS specific information:* In the case of multiple births, this item should be recorded for each baby born.

Perinatal NMDS 2011-12
Health, Superseded 07/03/2012

DSS specific attributes +
*Implementation start date:* 01/07/2011 *Implementation end date:* 30/06/2012 *DSS specific information:* In the case of multiple births, this item should be recorded for each baby born.

Perinatal NMDS 2012-13
Health, Superseded 07/02/2013

DSS specific attributes +
*Implementation start date:* 01/07/2012 *Implementation end date:* 30/06/2013 *DSS specific information:* In the case of multiple births, this item should be recorded for each baby born.

Perinatal NMDS 2013-14
Health, Superseded 07/03/2014

DSS specific attributes +
*Implementation start date:* 01/07/2013 *Implementation end date:* 30/06/2014 *DSS specific information:* In the case of multiple births, this item should be recorded for each baby born.

Perinatal NMDS 2014-18
Health, Superseded 02/08/2017

DSS specific attributes +
*Implementation start date:* 01/07/2014 *Implementation end date:* 30/06/2018 *DSS specific information:* In the case of multiple births, this item should be recorded for each baby born.

Implementation in Indicators:

Used as Numerator

Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation: Caesarean section for selected women giving birth for the first time, 2012-2014 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Standard 07/06/2017

Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation: Third- and fourth-degree perineal tears for all vaginal births, 2012-2014 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Standard 07/06/2017

Caesarean section at less than 37, 38 and 39 completed weeks gestation without medical or obstetric indication, 2017 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Standard 27/04/2021

Caesarean section or induction of labour at less than 37, 38 and 39 completed weeks gestation without medical or obstetric indication, 2017 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Standard 27/04/2021

Early planned caesarean section without medical or obstetric indication, 2015 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Standard 13/12/2018

National Core Maternity Indicators: PI 01–Tobacco smoking in pregnancy for all females giving birth, 2018 Health, Superseded 19/06/2019

National Core Maternity Indicators: PI 01–Tobacco smoking in pregnancy for all females giving birth, 2019 Health, Superseded 16/09/2020

National Core Maternity Indicators: PI 01-Tobacco smoking in pregnancy for all women giving birth (2013) Health, Superseded 02/02/2016

National Core Maternity Indicators: PI 01—Tobacco smoking in pregnancy for all women giving birth (2016) Health, Superseded 06/09/2018

National Core Maternity Indicators: PI 02-Antenatal care in the first trimester for all women giving birth (2013) Health, Superseded 02/02/2016