Preventing violence in New South Wales: data sources and their adequacy

Alison Rutherford; Anthony B. Zwi

doi:10.1071/NB07060

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Preventing violence in New South Wales: data sources and their adequacy

Alison Rutherford ^A ^B and Anthony B. Zwi ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales

^B Corresponding author: a.rutherford@unsw.edu.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 18(6) 75-82 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07060
Published: 25 July 2007

Abstract

Objectives: To describe data sources that are relevant to violence in NSW and recommend strategies for improving data collection and dissemination. Methods: Literature review, interviews with stakeholders and a survey of data custodians within NSW Health. Results: Data sources were mapped using a conceptual framework developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We found that current data sources are only partially effective at characterising the burden of violence in NSW and there are inadequate mechanisms for data review and dissemination. Conclusions: Improving data collection and dissemination is the first step in the public health contribution towards reducing the burden of violence on society.

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Injury Prevention and Policy Branch, NSW Health. We would like to thank Pam Albany and Caroline Finch for their support. We would also like to thank all the stakeholders who took part in the interviews and surveys.

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