The average induction rate in Australia was 26.1% in 2003 (25.9% in 1999). This is more than 2 1/2 times the recommended rate of 10% by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Induction rates vary greatly from caregiver to caregiver, hospital to hospital, state to state and country to country. Below are the latest available figures on induction rates in all the Australian states in 2003.
| |
1998 |
| NSW |
24.5% |
| VIC |
27.6% |
| SA |
29% |
| ACT |
21.9% |
| WA |
29.2% |
| QLD |
25.1% |
| TAS |
28% |
| NT |
22.2% |
|
The NSW Department of Health also publishes the individual statistics of every maternity hospital in the state. Induction rates can vary from less than 10% to over 38%, depending on the hospital. Spontaneous labours (or labours that start on their own) can range from 70.1%, to as little as 13.8% in one hospital.
If you wish to look at the actual rates of spontaneous births and the rates of inductions in every NSW hospital for 2004 you can click on the link below.
NSW Health Department
