National Core Maternity Indicators: PI 04–Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes for births at or after term, 2021

Collection and usage attributes

The number of live born babies at or after term (from 37 completed weeks gestational age) with an Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes, divided by the number of live born babies born at or after term (from 37 completed weeks gestational age), and multiplied by 100.

A birth is defined as the complete expulsion or extraction from a female, of a product of conception of 20 or more completed weeks of gestation or of 400 grams or more birthweight. If the baby is alive the birth is a live birth. If the baby is not alive the birth is a stillbirth.

Gestational age is a clinical measure of the duration of the pregnancy. For the National Perinatal Data Collection gestational age is reported as completed weeks. Term is defined as gestational age between 37 and 41 weeks.

Births included are live born babies born at or after term.

Births excluded are stillbirths and babies born before term (before 37 weeks).

100 × (Numerator ÷ Denominator)

The number of live born babies at or after term (from 37 completed weeks gestational age) with an Apgar score of less than 7 at 5 minutes.

The number of live born babies born at or after term (from 37 completed weeks gestational age).

• Year of birth
• State or territory of birth
• Mother's age at birth
• Hospital annual number of births
• Indigenous status of mother
• Labour/non-labour
• Hospital sector
• Primary Health Network (from mother's area of usual residence)
• Statistical local area 3 (from mother's area of usual residence)

Data elements are from the Perinatal National Minimum Data Set (NMDS) or have been provided as voluntary non-standardised items by the states and territories. Records with a permissible value have been included in the denominator.

The Apgar score is a system of assessing the baby’s breathing, pulse, colour, movement and reflexes at 5 minutes after birth. It is a score out of 10, with higher scores indicating better condition of the baby. A score of less than 7 at 5 minutes after birth is considered to be an indicator of complications and of compromise for the baby.

Modified from Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Indicator 9.1: Low 5 minute score, full term babies. This ACHS indicator is based on the definition by the Women's Healthcare Australasia Core Maternity Indicators Project (WHA 2007).

Representational attributes

N[NN.N]

Data source attributes

Source and reference attributes

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

ACHS (The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards) 2020. The Australasian Clinical Indicator Report: 2012-2019. 21st edn. Sydney: ACHS. Viewed 11 November 2021, https://www.achs.org.au/our-services/pos/previous-acir-publications.

WHA (Women's Healthcare Australasia) 2007. Supporting excellence in maternity care: the core maternity indicators project: findings from the core maternity indicators project. Canberra: WHA.

Relational attributes