Injuries are the primary cause of disability and death among children and adolescents in Australia. They account for at least a quarter of all emergency department visits for young people. These injuries can be accidental (such as falls, road accidents, drowning, and burns) or intentional (like self-harm, violence, or assault). The type, location, and cause of injuries vary according to age, developmental stage, and gender as well as socioeconomic status and location. Injuries are events that can be anticipated and prevented. Understanding their occurrence and context is crucial for developing preventive measures.
A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released today, reveals insights into injuries sustained by Australian children and adolescents from July 2021 to June 2022. Key findings include:
– Children aged 1–4 years are most likely to visit an emergency department due to injuries.
– Adolescents aged 16–18 years are most commonly admitted to hospitals for injuries.
– Boys have a higher likelihood of being hospitalised for injuries than girls, a trend that continues into adulthood.
– Girls are five times more likely than boys to be hospitalised for injuries due to intentional self-harm.
– Falls are the leading cause of injury among children, accounting for one-third of child injury hospitalisations, with playground equipment falls being the most prevalent.
– Fractures are the most frequent childhood injuries, particularly arm and wrist fractures in children aged 10–12 years.
Injury patterns show differences between boys and girls, and causes of injury evolve as children develop.
For infants under one year old, drowning, burns, choking, and suffocation have the highest hospital admission rates compared to adults. During early childhood (ages 1–4), the top causes of injury-related hospitalisations are drowning, burns, choking, suffocation, and accidental poisoning. Among adolescents aged 16–18, road and other transport-related injuries are the most common reasons for hospital admissions.
While sports and physical activities carry injury risks, the health advantages are significant. Cycling leads to the highest number of sports-related injuries, with nearly 3,000 hospital presentations, highlighting the need for safer cycling practices. Among the top 20 sports causing injury hospitalisations, fractures are the most common injuries, followed by soft-tissue injuries, open wounds, and head injuries. Nevertheless, the data should be interpreted cautiously, as only about half of all injury-related hospitalisations specify the activity during which the injury occurred. It is known that injuries most frequently happen at home.
Injuries can be severe or even fatal. Even non-fatal injuries may result in prolonged hospital stays for children, hindering their growth and development. To prevent injuries, there needs to be a balance between risk and safety. For children, play is a crucial aspect of learning and developing various skills, knowledge, and attitudes. It fosters problem-solving, social and emotional growth, self-awareness, and physical mastery. Taking risks is an essential component of play in all environments where children explore. As children grow into adolescence, these risks change. With appropriate guidance and supervision from parents and caregivers, a balance can be achieved between providing opportunities for risk-taking and ensuring protection from serious harm.
The Australian government has developed a draft for a new National Injury Prevention Strategy, expected to be released in 2024. This strategy aims to offer clear guidance for all government levels and stakeholders on prevention strategies and required investments. In the meantime, enhanced injury surveillance data is urgently needed to better understand injury causes (such as family violence, substance misuse, intentional self-harm, or consumer product-related injuries) and locations (home, school, shopping centres, etc.). There is also a lack of attention to priority groups, including those with low socioeconomic status, rural and remote residents, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Improved reporting on injury trends for children and adolescents will provide better information to parents, caregivers, teachers, and health professionals regarding risks.