Australia's injury death rate has risen for the first time in 5
years, pushed up by increases in suicide and falls, according to a
recent study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The study, published today in the Institute's Australian Injury
Prevention Bulletin, found that 7,189 people died from injury in
1994, up 1% on the previous year.
Director of the Institute's National Injury Surveillance Unit,
Dr James Harrison, said that the rise was 'primarily due to a 4%
upturn in the female injury rate-the male injury rate actually went
down, but by less than 1%'.
'Injury death rates are still much higher for men than for
women, however, by almost 3 to 1, with the absolute highest rates
among young men and the elderly.'
The study found that suicide rates increased by 7% for both men
and women between 1993 and 1994, and remained particularly high
among men aged 15 to 29.
Also on the increase were death rates from falls among elderly
people, with the rate rising by 17% over this period.
Dr Harrison also noted that the the road injury death rate fell
by just 1% from 1993: 'The large drops of recent years have slowed,
and indeed, data for 1995 and early 1996 from the Federal Office of
Road Safety show no further decline in road deaths'.
Other findings in the report include:
- Injury death rates were higher in the Northern Territory than
in other States, reflecting relatively high rates in non-urban
rural and remote areas, and among the Aboriginal population.
- Drowning and transport deaths predominate in early childhood;
transport deaths predominate in later childhood and early
adulthood; suicide and transport deaths predominate in adulthood;
and falls predominate in old age.
18 October 1996
Further information: Dr James Harrison, NISU
Director, ph. 08 8374 0970, or John Dolinis, NISU Senior Research
Officer, ph. 08 8374 0970.
For media copies of the bulletin and general media
inquiries: Nigel Harding, AIHW Communication and Public
Affairs Head, ph. 02 6244 1025 or 014 68 8834 (mobile).
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications Catalogue
for details.