Perinatal Statistics Report 2012

Health Research and Information Division, The Economic & Social Research Institute

For all babies born in Ireland in 2012, this report presents information reported to the National Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS) on pregnancy outcomes, together with descriptive social and biological characteristics of all mothers giving birth.   Some of the main findings of the 2012 report are summarised below. In each case, we use the corresponding data for a decade ago (2003) and for 2011 to provide a national context for the findings and the corresponding EU numbers (where available) to give a European context. Births – Numbers and Rates

• The decline in birth numbers continues as 71,986 births were notified to the NPRS in 2012 compared with 74,377 births in 2011. This represents a reduction of 3.2% since 2011 and 5.3% since the peak in 2009.
• At 15.6 per 1,000 population, Ireland reported the highest birth rate of any of the 27 EU countries. The average birth rate for the 27 EU countries is 10.4 per 1,000 population.
• The pattern of decline in the perinatal mortality rate continues. This rate is estimated at 5.9 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths in 2012 compared with 6.1 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths in 2011 which represents a reduction of over 3%. When compared with 2003, when the perinatal mortality rate was 8.6 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths, the 2012 rate represents a reduction of 31%.
• The stillbirth rate is estimated at 3.9 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths in 2012 compared with 5.8 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths in 2003, and 4.0 per 1,000 live births and stillbirths in 2011, representing a reduction of 33% over the decade and a slight decrease of 3% between 2011 and 2012.
• The early neonatal mortality rate is estimated at 2.0 per 1,000 live births in 2012 compared with 2.9 per 1,000 live births in 2003, and 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2011, which represents a reduction of 31% over the decade, and a 5% decrease since 2011.
• The twinning rate for 2012 was 17.2 per 1,000 maternities. This compares with a twinning rate in 2011 of 18.1 per 1,000 maternities, and 14.3 per 1,000 maternities in 2003. Multiple births in 2012 included 1,217 sets of twins and 33 sets of triplets.
• At 1.99, Ireland reported the highest total period fertility rate of the 27 EU countries. In 2011 (the most recent year for which data are available), the total period fertility rate for the 27 EU countries was 1.57.

Breastfeeding

• At the point of discharge from hospital or by midwife attending a domicilary birth, 47% of all babies were exclusively breastfed in 2012, which is unchanged since 2011 and was reported at 41% in 2003.
• When examined by nationality, for babies born to Irish mothers the exclusive breastfeeding rate is estimated at 40% compared with over 75% for babies born to mothers from Europe and America which report the highest breastfeeding rates.

Length of Stay and Age of Mothers

• Mother's average length of stay was recorded at 3.4 days in 2012 compared with 4.0 days in 2003, and 3.3 days in 2011. This represents a decrease of 15% over the decade, and a slight increase of 3% since 2011.
• The average age of women giving birth was 31.9 years in 2012 compared with 31.7 years in 2011, and 30.6 years in 2003.
• Just 2% of women giving birth were aged under 20 years, with 30% of women giving birth aged 35 years or older.
• Of all women giving birth in 2012, 39% gave birth for the first time; the average age of these first-time mothers was 30.0 years. The average age of mothers giving birth for a second time or more was 33.2 years.

Marital Status and Nationality of Mothers

• Some 34% of births in 2012 were to single mothers who has an average age of 28.8 years; this compares with, respectively, 30% of births and 26.1 years in 2003.
• Almost one quarter of births in 2012 were to mothers born outside Ireland which is unchanged since 2011. In 2004, the year this information was first collected, just 18% of births were to mothers born outside Ireland.
• There were 176 home births attended by independent domiciliary midwives in 2012 compared with 236 home births in 2003 and 168 home births in 2011. This represents a reduction of 25% over the decade, and a slight increase of 5% over the 2011 rate.

Infant Characteristics

• In 2012, the average birthweight was recorded at 3464.0 grams for total live births. Singleton live births recorded an average birthweight of 3502.0 grams, while multiple live births recorded an average birthweight of 2420.2 grams.
• Low birthweight babies (<2,500 grams) were recorded at 5% of total live births. For singleton live births 4% recorded low birthweight while multiple live births recorded 50% low birthweight.
• High birthweight babies (≥4,500 grams) were recorded at 3% of total live births.
• Of total live births recorded, 52% were male and 48% were female.

Notes for Editors:

• In 2012, 20 maternity hospitals/units and 21 independent midwives in Ireland reported to NPRS.
• The National Perinatal Reporting System has as its principal aim the provision of national statistics on perinatal events. The ESRI has been responsible for managing, and reporting on, the NPRS on behalf of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive since 1999.
• The current and previous NPRS Annual Reports are available at: https://www.esri.ie/health_information/latest_hipe_nprs_reports