Injury is a leading cause of death and major contributor to physical disability and psychological trauma for children and young people. 

 

The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology of serious injury hospitalisations. The analysis was undertaken at the request of the ACT Child & Young People Death Review Committee. 

 

This research involved an analysis of ACT resident young people aged 0–24 years hospitalised in the ACT for an injury between 2000 and 2020. 

Injury severity classifications were based on survival risk ratios (SRRs)1. The survival risk ratios were used to categorise injuries into mild, moderate and severe categories.

 

Over the 20-year study period, 63.5% of injury related hospitalisations for young Canberrans aged 0–24 years were for males and 36.5% were for females. 

Age-standardised rates for both males and females increased over the 20-year period. Rates for males increased by an average of 2.8% per year, while female rates increased by 4.8% per year.

Most hospital-related injuries were classified as minor. However, the proportion of injury-related hospitalisations classified as moderate or serious increased with age.

The leading nature of injury for all age-groups was injuries to the head. 

 

This research provides a detailed understanding of the burden and severity of hospitalised childhood injury in the ACT. It can help shape injury prevention strategies, policy prioritisation and resource allocation in the ACT.

1. Mitchell, R. & Ting, H. P. Survival risk ratios for ICD-10-AM injury diagnosis classifications for children. Macquarie University.

 

Pollock Z, Draper G, Freebairn L
 
 

1.     ACT Health Directorate, Phillip, ACT, 2606