Table 1 Variables examined and chi square analysis

Mothers education

Post yr 12

9969

3.47

35.45

4

<0.001

Yr 12

4934

3.69

Yr 10

4878

4.51

Never/primary

583

6.69

Other

658

6.69

Financial situation

Good

2488

2.33

120.95

2

<0.001

Average

13353

3.88

Poor

1041

10.18

Accommodation

Private

17673

3.68

63.40

2

<0.001

Public

1160

8.36

Other

2435

3.74

Father employment

Fulltime

14860

3.34

67.47

4

<0.001

Casual/part time

960

6.04

Self emp

2345

3.11

Umemp

1134

5.91

Other

943

7.10

Phone access

Yes

20948

3.90

8.68

1

0.003

No

396

6.82

Car access

Yes

16899

3.65

21.70

1

<0.001

No/occas

4544

5.17

Aboriginality

No

20557

4.00

3.40

1

0.065

Yes

463

5.62

Marital status

Married

16038

3.62

47.60

2

<0.001

Single

1900

6.89

Partner

3668

4.12

Blended family

No

17763

3.88

3.78

1

0.520

Yes

3142

4.61

Household size

1 to 5

18058

3.78

11.77

2

0.003

6 to 10

3300

5.00

>10

123

5.69

Children under 5

1

11049

4.01

10.45

3

0.150

2

8122

3.77

3

1672

4.72

4 or more

246

7.32

Planned pregnancy

Yes

14719

3.01

103.02

1

<0.001

No

6738

5.91

Maternal smoking

No

17666

3.69

31.99

1

<0.001

Yes

3096

5.85

Country of birth

Australia

12622

3.51

14.45

1

<0.001

Other

8656

4.54

Suburb duration

3 or more

11135

3.83

1.80

2

0.407

2 years

3729

3.86

1 year or less

6269

4.23

Emotional support

Yes

18825

3.37

251.57

1

<0.001

No

1630

11.41

Practical support

Yes

18540

3.46

76.68

1

<0.001

No

2779

6.91

Support network

3 or more

18101

3.44

81.54

1

<0.001

Less than 3

3017

6.89

Regret leaving

Yes

16706

3.57

33.36

1

<0.001

No

3960

5.56

Expectations of motherhood

As expected or better

16329

2.92

201.90

1

<0.001

Worse than expected

4851

7.44