NONFATAL INJURIES TO YOUNG VICTORIANS, 1986-1991

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of non-fatal injuries sustain ed by young Victorians requiring hospitalisation, and to provide basel ine data to establish and evaluate injury prevention programs. Data so urce: The Victorian Inpatient Minimum Database, as modified for use by Monash University Accident Research Centre. Design: A five-year (July 1986 to June 1991) retrospective epidemiological study of 56209 15-24 -year-olds admitted to Victorian public hospitals because of injury. R esults: The annual Victorian hospital admission rate of 15-24-year-old s with injuries was 1609 per 100000. The major causes of admission wer e, in order of frequency, transport injuries, falls (excluding falls i n sport), sports injuries, assault, and self-inflicted injuries. The c ost to the Victorian community in hospital expenditure is at least $31 .5M per year. Of these injuries, 73.9% were unintentional; however, in tentional self-inflicted and assault injury rates were higher for both adolescents (15-19 years) and young adults (20-24 years) compared wit h other age groups. Conclusion: High rates of injury for young people have been found, imposing a considerable burden on the community. As m any injuries are preventable, the risk factors warrant further investi gation. In particular, control measures could help reduce sports, tran sport-related and intentionally inflicted injuries.