In baby stakes, Cairns delivers
Region’s women doing their bit to keep nation’s population growing
CAIRNS women are doing their bit to keep Australia’s population booming.
While our birthrate has fallen, local mothers are having more babies than their capital city counterparts.
Analysis of national fertility data reveals 13,783 infants were born in Cairns and Hinterland in the five years to the end of 2017. Cairns’s birthrate equates to 2.1 children per woman compared to 1.8 babies for each adult woman in Brisbane.
The state and national averages are 1.9.
Demographers say to ensure there is a person to replace each mother and father and to grow Australia’s population, the average number of children per couple should be 2.1 – a figure Cairns is meeting.
Australian Population Association president Ann Evans said migrant numbers, age and the education, employment, housing and income status of residents all impacted birthrates.
“The fertility rate is higher in regional areas because the type of people who live in those areas are more disposed to have kids,” the Australian National University School of Demography associate professor said.
“The age structure can have a major impact – for example, if there are lots of older people, the birthrate will be low.
“Capital cities also have higher levels of migrants who often have less children than those born in Australia. Women who are well educated may also have less children and most of these people will be in cities, where the jobs are.”
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service medical services executive director Nicki Murdock said the organisation reviewed birthing data and demographics monthly to ensure it kept up with demand. This included expanding a program where each mother deals with one midwife throughout pregnancy, labour and birth.
“Our paediatric and maternity services work closely to continue to enhance the provision of neonatal care across the hospital and health service region,” she said.