Table 2 “Watch Me Grow” cohort representativeness of the postnatal ward and SWSLHD non-participants #proportions based on available data

Child

Male

964 (48.0)

2826 (51.2) p = .01

6431 (51.6) p = .002

Female

1047 (52.0)

2697 (48.8)

6024 (48.4)

Mean birth weight (g)

3291.6 (SD 590.7)

3281.2 (SD 618.9)

3349.4 (SD 565.3) p < .001

Low birth weight (<2500 g)

151 (7.5)

474 (8.6)

722 (5.8) p = .004

Mean gestational age (weeks)

38.8 (SD 2.0)

38.7 (SD 2.2)

38.9 (SD 1.9) p = .03

Preterm(<37 weeks)

180 (9.0)

498 (9.0)

860 (6.9) p = .009

Admitted SCHN/NICU

301 (15.0)

868 (15.8)

1423 (11.4) p < .001

Mother

Mean maternal age (years)

30.1 (SD 5.5)

30.1 (SD 27.6)

29.7 (SD 18.8)

Maternal age < 20 years

48 (2.4)

115 (2.1)

321 (2.6)

Maternal smoking in pregnancy

87 (5.3)

265 (6.0)

661 (7.3) p = .005

Maternal alcohol during pregnancy

23 (1.3)

53 (1.1)

171 (1.6)

Antenatal health problems

621 (32.0)

1642 (33.8)

3068 (26.5) p < .001

Mother experienced child abuse as a child

126 (7.5)

256 (5.7) p = .008

795 (7.6)

Poor maternal mental health EDS >12

116 (7.1)

346 (7.7)

738 (7.1)

Family

Primary language on antenatal visit

458 (23.2)

1427 (26.6) p = .003

2897 (23.8)

Mother Australian nationality

825 (41.7)

2283 (42.5)

6212 (50.9) p < .001

Mother Middle Eastern and Asian nationality

848 (42.2)

2262 (42.1)

4309 (35.3) p < .001

Mother has no partner at antenatal check

74 (4.0)

233 (4.9)

618 (5.7) p = .005

Hit, slapped, hurt by partner in last year

19 (1.1)

66 (1.4)

152 (1.4)

A child already in out-of-home care

41 (2.6)

124 (2.8)

317 (3.2)

Neighbourhood

SEIFA decile 1

855 (44.2)

2417 (46.1)

4491 (37.5) p < .001