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Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

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 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6471-1643 A , Reinhold Muller D and Alan R. Clough B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

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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