Cause and incidence of injuries experienced by children in remote Cape York Indigenous communities
Caryn West A E , Michelle S. Fitts B C , Chris Rouen
A , Reinhold Muller D and Alan R. Clough B
A Nursing and Midwifery, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
B Community-based Health Promotion and Prevention Studies Group, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
C Present address: Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic. 3086, Australia.
D Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: caryn.west@jcu.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 25(2) 157-162 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY18175
Submitted: 22 May 2018 Accepted: 15 January 2019 Published: 12 March 2019
Abstract
Indigenous children experience a disproportionally high number of injuries, particularly in remote communities. This study aimed to investigate: (1) the causes of injury to children within three remote Indigenous communities of Cape York, Australia; (2) differences between communities; and (3) if strengthening of alcohol restrictions reduced the incidence of injury. An injury profile for children aged 0–14 years was constructed for the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2011 using clinical file audit data from Primary Health Care Clinics located in each community. Children aged <14 years were responsible for 1461 injury presentations among 563 individuals. Males were responsible for 58.7% of presentations and 38% (n = 214) of children presented on three or more occasions. The leading causes of injury were falls (including sports); cutting and piercing; animals, insects and plants; transport and assault. There were variations in the order of major injury causes across the three communities. As primary causes of injury, falls and transport-related injuries aligned with other child populations. Cutting and piercing; animals, insects and plants; and assault-related injuries were more prevalent compared with other child populations. There was a significant difference in injury rates between communities and no significant difference before and after the strengthening of alcohol restrictions.
Additional keywords: Australian, Australian Aboriginal, child health, childhood injuries, primary health.
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