Trauma-related hospitalizations among urban adolescents in New Zealand: Priorities for prevention

Purpose: To: (a) determine the magnitude, characteristics, and in-patient c osts of injury among hospitalized urban adolescents in New Zealand (NZ); (b ) identify regional priorities for injury prevention and investigative rese arch; and (c) compare the study findings with published data from other ind ustrialized countries. Methods: The 1989-1993 files of the NZ Hospital Discharge Database were acc essed to identify and analyze trauma-related admissions of adolescents resi ding in NZ's largest metropolitan region. Results: The estimated 9569 hospitalizations for injury accounted for one-f ourth of all adolescent admissions in the region, a mean annual hospitaliza tion rate of 1292/ 100,000 population and a minimum annual cost of NZ $5.8 million for in-patient care. Males and indigenous Maori youth had comparati vely higher rates of hospitalizations for most major causes of injury. Fall s, pedal cyclist injury, cuts, and piercing injuries were leading causes of hospitalization for trauma in early adolescence. Admission rates for motor cylist and other motor vehicle occupant trauma and self-inflicted injury in creased substantially among older adolescents. Sport and recreational activ ities comprised at least one-sixth of injury admissions. Conclusions: The overall rates of injury resulting in hospitalization among Auckland adolescents were comparable to those reported from Australia and France, but higher than those from the United States, Canada, and Israel. B y identifying priority issues and high-risk groups,this study provides a fo undation for regional injury control initiatives. It also demonstrates the utility and limitations of E-coded hospital discharge registries in definin g the burden of serious nonfatal trauma. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicin e, 1999.