During 2016–2018, injuries contributed to 532 deaths of children aged 0–14, a rate of 3.8 per 100,000 children. The leading causes of injury deaths were: land transport accidents (29%) (including road traffic deaths), accidental drowning (18%) and intentional self-harm (12%).
Deaths
In 2018, there were 988 deaths of infants under the age of 1—a rate of 3.1 per 1,000 live births. Infant deaths comprised over two-thirds (71%) of all deaths among children aged 0–14.
The leading causes of infant deaths were:
- perinatal conditions (52%)
- congenital conditions (25%)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal findings, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (9.4%).
In 2018, there were 396 deaths of children aged 1–14, a rate of 9.0 per 100,000 children. Across 2016–18, the leading causes of child deaths were injuries (including accidental drowning) (33%), cancer (20%) and disease of the nervous system (10%).
Overall, the death rate for children aged 1–14 has fallen between 1998 and 2018. Since 2011, the death rate has remained relatively stable around 9 to 12 deaths per 100,000. Similarly, the infant death rate has fallen from 5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1998 to 3.1 per 1,000 live births in 2018.
See Causes of death.
Nutrition
Good nutrition is key to supporting children’s growth and development (NHMRC 2013).
In 2017–18, it was estimated that:
- about 7 in 10 (72%) children aged 5–14 met the recommended guidelines for fruit consumption
- only 1 in 25 (4.4%) children aged 5–14 met the recommended guidelines for vegetable consumption (ABS 2019c).
Almost half (45%) of children aged 5–14 consumed either sugar-sweetened drinks or diet drinks at least once a week. The proportion was higher for children aged 10–14 (53%) than children aged 5–9 (33%) (ABS 2019c).
See Diet.
Physical activity
In addition to good nutrition, participating in physical activity and limiting sedentary behaviour is critical to a child’s health, development and psychosocial wellbeing.
In 2011–12, it was estimated that:
- less than one-quarter (23%) of children aged 5–14 undertook the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity every day
- less than one-third (32%) met the screen-based activity guidelines
- only 1 in 10 (10%) children met both sets of guidelines each day (ABS 2013).
On average, children aged 5–14 spent around 2 hours (123 minutes) each day sitting or lying down for screen-based activities, with only 3.5 minutes of this being for homework. Children aged 10–14 spent more time in front of screens (145 minutes) on average in a day than children aged 5–9 (102 minutes) (ABS 2013).
See Insufficient physical activity.
Overweight and obesity
In 2017–18, while the majority of children aged 5–14 (67% or just over 1 million) were a normal weight, an estimated 746,000 or 24% of children were overweight or obese. Almost 8% of all children were obese. The proportions of overweight and obesity were similar for boys and girls across age groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 5–14 remained relatively stable between 2007–08 and 2017–18 (ABS 2019c).
For further detail of how overweight and obesity is defined and measured, see Overweight and obesity.
Immunisation
Measuring childhood immunisation coverage helps track how protected the community is against vaccine-preventable diseases, and reflects the capacity of the health care system to effectively target and provide vaccinations to children.
In 2018, more than 9 in 10 (91%) children aged 2 were fully immunised. Coverage rates for 2 year olds are slightly lower than for 1 year olds (94%) and 5 year olds (95%) due to changes to the National Immunisation Program Schedule in 2016 (Department of Health 2019).
The proportion of children fully immunised at 2 years old remained relatively stable at around 91–93% between 2009 and 2018, dropping slightly to 89% in 2015 and 90% in 2017 (Department of Health 2019).
See Immunisation and vaccination.
Emergency department presentations
In 2018–19, children aged 0–14 accounted for more than 1 in 5 (21%) emergency department presentations. Boys aged 0–14 accounted for almost one-quarter (24%) of emergency department presentations by males. Girls aged 0–14 accounted for 19% of all emergency department presentations by females (AIHW 2019d).
For more information on the health of children, see:
Visit Children & youth for more on this topic.
References
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2013. Microdata: Australian Health Survey: nutrition and physical activity, 2011–12, TableBuilder. Findings based on AIHW analysis of ABS TableBuilder data. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2018b. Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, June 2016. ABS cat. no. 3238.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2018c. National Health Survey: first results, 2017–18. ABS cat. no. 4364.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2018d. Population projections, Australia, 2017 (base)–2066. ABS cat. no. 3222.0. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2018a. Regional population by age and sex, Australia, 2017. ABS cat. no. 3235.0. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2019a. Australian demographic statistics, Jun 2019. ABS cat. no. 3101.0. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2019b. Disability, ageing and carers, Australia: summary of findings, 2018. ABS cat. no. 4430.0. Canberra: ABS.
ABS 2019c. Microdata: National Health Survey 2017–18. ABS cat. no. 4364.0.55.001. Findings based on AIHW analysis using TableBuilder.
ABS 2019d. Regional population by age and sex, Australia, 2018. ABS cat. no. 3235.0. Canberra: ABS.
AHMAC (Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council) 2015. Healthy, safe and thriving: national strategic framework for child and youth health. Adelaide: AHMAC. Viewed 24 September 2019.
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2019a. Australian Burden of Disease Study: impact and causes of illness and death in Australia 2015. Australian Burden of Disease series no. 19. Cat. no. BOD 22. Canberra: AIHW.
AIHW 2019b. Australia’s children. Cat. no. CWS 69. Canberra: AIHW.
AIHW 2019c. Australia’s mothers and babies 2017—in brief. Perinatal statistics series no. 34. Cat. no. PER 100. Canberra: AIHW.
AIHW 2019d. Emergency department care 2018–19. Cat. No. HSE 223. Canberra: AIHW.
Bell MF, Bayliss DM, Glauert R & Ohan JL 2016. Chronic illness and developmental vulnerability at school entry. Pediatrics 137(5).
Department of Health 2019. Current coverage data tables for all children. Canberra: Department of Health. Viewed 25 July 2019.
Lawrence D, Johnson S, Hafekost J, Boterhoven De Haan K, Sawyer M, Ainley J & Zubrock SR 2015. The mental health of children and adolescents. Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Canberra: Department of Health. Viewed 17 May 2019.
NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) 2013. Australian Dietary Guidelines. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council.
Redmond G, Skattebol J, Saunders P, Lietz P, Zizzo f, O’Grady E et al. 2016. Are the kids alright? Young Australians in their middle years: final report of the Australian Child Wellbeing Project. Flinders University, University of New South Wales and Australian Council for educational Research. Viewed 24 September 2019.