DEATHS FROM INJURY IN CHILDHOOD IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIA, 1983-1992

Objective: To examine the factors associated with deaths from injury i n childhood. Setting: Western Australia. Design: Mortality rates and p opulation data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for chi ldren aged 0-14 years between 1983 and 1992 were examined retrospectiv ely. Deaths from injury were extracted and cause of death, district of residence, age, sex and race (Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal) identifie d. A similar study from 1953 to 1962 and extracts from the World healt h statistics annual (1991) were used for comparison. Results: In the 1 0-year period, 462 children died from injury. Almost two-thirds were b oys. The annual mortality rate (per 100 000) was 12.2: 9.9 in metropol itan areas and 16.6 in the country. This had fallen from a rate of 29. 6 in 1953-1962. Causes of death and mortality rates were: motor vehicl e accidents, 5.1; drowning, 2.9; suffocation and inhalation, 0.6; burn s, 0.4; poisonings, 0.3; and others, 2.0. The mortality rate for Abori ginal children was 40.6, nearly four times that of non-Aboriginal chil dren. There was a reduction in deaths due to burns and poisoning and a considerable reduction in deaths of child motor vehicle passengers, e xcept in the age group 0-1 year. Drowning remains a serious problem, p articularly for the 1-4 year olds. Australian childhood mortality rate s are higher than for some European countries, but lower than for New Zealand and the United States. Conclusions: To further reduce deaths f rom injury in childhood, I recommend that car seat restraint legislati on be extended to include all children. Deaths from drowning and all d eaths from injury in Aboriginal children need further investigation to develop strategies for prevention.