Moderate fertility rates ensure that our communities can welcome the next generation and continue to provide resources to meet their needs. Even so, teenage motherhood is still linked to poorer health and wellbeing outcomes for both mother and baby (Mann et al. 2020); education and support of teenagers and teenage mothers is important.

Our region has a high fertility rate and a very high teenage pregnancy rate.

• Every year, almost 8000 babies are born in the region (Queensland Health 2015).

• The region has a high fertility rate. Data from 2019 show that women in the region average 2.2 births each, compared with 1.8 for Queensland and 1.7 for Australia (PHIDU 2021).

• The region has a high rate of teenage pregnancies. Data from 2011–15 show that women in the region aged 15–19 had an average of 22.3 births per 1,000 women, compared with 16.3 for Queensland. Some regional areas have even higher rates – for example, 69.6 for Kingaroy – North Nanango, 60.6 for Miles Wandoan, 57.5 for Riverview and 55.6 for Chinchilla (Statistical Area Level 2) (AIHW 2018).

• Teenagers who become pregnant are more likely to experience socio-economic disadvantage and unstable housing, as well as other financial, medical, educational and employment difficulties (Mann et al. 2020).

• Concerns about teenage mothers, especially those with socio-economic, emotional and behavioural needs during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care, were raised in our consumer engagements (Health Consumer Queensland 2022).

Infant and child mortality rates and causes are key measures of community health. The risk of infant and child mortality is linked to the health of the mother, highlighting the importance of regular antenatal visits (Queensland Health 2015). Conditions that increase risk include diabetes and hypertension, smoking during pregnancy, obesity, pre-eclampsia, and antepartum haemorrhage. 

Our region has unacceptably high infant and child mortality rates.

• The rate of infant mortality in the region was 4.6 per 1,000 live births in 2014–19, decreasing from 5.5 recorded in 2013–17. This is the highest overall rate in Queensland, and rates are particularly high in the Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Southern Downs regional areas (PHIDU 2021).

• Deaths among young people in the region aged 15–24 years were higher (53.3 per 100,000 young people) than the national average (38.9) and the Queensland average (44.3) during 2015–19. The rates were highest in the Goondiwindi, South Burnett and Western Downs regional areas. The community of Cherbourg also recorded high rates, for a small population (PHIDU 2021).

• Risk factors associated with infant mortality in the region include prematurity, low birth weight, maternal smoking, high maternal body mass index, socio-economic disadvantage, remoteness, and attending fewer than the recommended number of antenatal visits (Queensland Health 2015).

• In 2018, around 7,700 mothers gave birth to a child in the region. Around 85% of mothers did not smoke during pregnancy and 80% attended 8 or more antenatal visits (Queensland Health 2020).

• Residents told us there is an ongoing need for community-based perinatal, home-based care and family-centred interventions that improve the health outcomes of newborns and mothers (Health Consumer Queensland 2022).

A child’s health and wellbeing are affected by factors that start before they are born and continue as they grow. The social determinants of health – such as poverty, poor nutrition, environmental influences and family conflict – can all affect physical and mental development (Marmot 2005). Children from low-income families are often at greater risk of problems such as poor academic achievement, developmental delays and behavioural problems, and show high rates of obesity and respiratory disease (Hughes et al. 2017, AIHW 2021e).

The Australian Early Development Census assesses childhood development by collecting data on five domains: physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, and communication skills and general knowledge. Children who score in the lowest 10% of the census population are classified as developmentally vulnerable.

The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) assesses childhood development by collecting data on five domains (physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills, communication skills and general knowledge). Children who score in the lowest 10% of the census population are classified as developmentally vulnerable.

Our region has a high proportion of low-income families, who may be at risk of poor health and development outcomes. We also have a high proportion of children who are identified as developmentally vulnerable.

• The region has the highest proportion in Australia of jobless families with children – that is, families in which there is no parent in employment. In 2016, the rate was 15.9% – higher than the Queensland average (12.8%) and the national average (11.9%) (PHIDU 2021).

• Children in the region are on average more developmentally vulnerable than children across Queensland for all five early childhood development domains. In 2021, around 87% children were on track with their physical health and wellbeing when they commenced school. This rate is slightly below the Queensland average (88%) and the national average (90%) (PHIDU 2021). 

• By the age of 5, 97% of all children in the region and 98% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the region were fully immunised in June 2022. This rate was slightly above the Queensland average of 94% for all children (Department of Health and Aged Care 2022b).

• Although our children are more physically active than those in many other regions (53% are active every day, compared with 46% across Queensland), a high percentage remain overweight or obese (12% obese, compared with 9% across Queensland) (Queensland Health 2020).

• Residents told us that they want to see continued support, such as home visits for high-risk parents and newborns (Health Consumer Queensland 2022).