When, where and how injuries occur

Information around place of occurrence of injuries and activity undertaken at the time of injury is only reported for hospitalisations, and large proportions of records are missing this information.

Only 44,939 injury hospitalisations for women (21%) had both place of occurrence and activity information recorded. 

Injuries among women aged 65 years and over most commonly occurred in the home

73,120 injury hospitalisations for women (34%) had missing or unspecified place of occurrence information.

For records with place of occurrence recorded, the 3 most commonly recorded places were:

  • Most hospitalised injuries occurred in the home

    82,718 injury hospitalisations among women had home recorded as the place of occurrence, in 2022–23.

  • Streets and highways were the 2nd commonest recorded place of occurrence

    18,842 injury hospitalisations among women had streets or highways recorded as place of occurrence, in 2022–23.

  • Aged care facilities were the 3rd most frequently recorded place of occurrence

    17,691 injury hospitalisations among women had an aged care facility recorded as place of occurrence, in 2022–23.

Women aged 65 years and over were most likely to be injured in the home (2,265.7 per 100,000 population) and had the highest rates of injury for 7 of the 12 specified places compared to other age groups. Women aged 19 to 24 years were most likely to be injured at a sports area and at beaches and water bodies (140.9 and 23.0 per 100,000 population respectively).

Daily living activities were the most commonly specified activity at time of injury

160,637 injury hospitalisations for women (74%) had missing or unspecified information on activity undertaken at the time of injury. 

For the 56,587 hospitalisations (26%) that had activity specified, the most common activities recorded were:

  • ADL 20303 UWL 13615 Sport 12214

    Top 3 activities when injured

    Of the 56,587 women's injury hospitalisations (26%) that had activity specified in 2022-23.

    ADL: activities of daily living

    UWL: unpaid work and learning

Figure 5: Number of injury hospitalisations among women by place of occurrence and activity at time of injury, Australia, 2022–23

Number of injury hospitalisations by activity undertaken at time of injury event and place injury event occurred, showing that for records that had this information recorded, most injuries leading to hospitalisation occurred on the home while performing daily living activities. Second most common was unpaid work and learning in the home.

Number of injury hospitalisations by activity undertaken at time of injury event and place injury event occurred, showing that for records that had this information recorded, most injuries leading to hospitalisation occurred on the home while performing daily living activities. Second most common was unpaid work and learning in the home.

Sources: AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database.

Note: Only includes records where patient was aged 19 and over and patient’s sex recorded as female.

The highest number of ED presentations occurred in January

The highest number of injury Emergency Department (ED) presentations for women occurred in January, with 49,603 presentations, and this was the most common month to present to ED for most age groups (Figure 6). For all age groups, the number of ED presentations for women were generally higher in the summer and autumn months and lowest over winter.

Figure 6: Number and crude rate (per 100,000) of injury ED presentations for women by month of presentation and age group, Australia, 2022–23

Crude rate of ED presentation end status by age group showing women aged 65+ most likely to be admitted to hospital and referred to another hospital for admission from their ED presentation and women aged 19 to 24 were more likely to leave at own risk, not wait to be seen, and depart without being admitted.

Crude rate of ED presentation end status by age group showing women aged 65+ most likely to be admitted to hospital and referred to another hospital for admission from their ED presentation and women aged 19 to 24 were more likely to leave at own risk, not wait to be seen, and depart without being admitted.

Sources: AIHW National Non-Admitted Patient Emergency Department Care Database.

Note: Only includes records where patient was aged 19 and over and patient’s sex recorded as female.

The highest number of ED presentations for women were on a Sunday in the late morning and early afternoon

The highest number of injury ED presentations for women occurred on a Sunday between midday and 1:59pm (11,766 presentations) followed by a Sunday between 10am and 11:59am (11,731 presentations) (Figure 7).

Injury ED presentations among women 2022-23 peaked on weekends and Mondays during 2022-23. This pattern is similar to that for the general population and is likely influenced by limited access to lower-urgency care outside regular business hours. Many general practices (GP) and other health services are closed on weekends, which may result in seeking care from EDs for injuries that might otherwise be treated elsewhere (AIHW 2024; DoHAC 2024). Injuries sustained over the weekend may require timely medical attention that cannot wait until the next business day. Presentations may also arise on Mondays due to individuals delaying seeking care until more services are open. Please refer to AIHW report Use of emergency departments for lower urgency care 2020-21 and 2021-22 for information on why people visit EDs instead of GPs.

Figure 7: Number of injury ED presentations for women by time and day of presentation, Australia, 2022–23

Number of presentations by time of day and day of week showing each day the highest number of presentations was around the late morning and early afternoon period of 10am to 2pm with Sunday and Monday having the highest peaks during this time.

Number of presentations by time of day and day of week showing each day the highest number of presentations was around the late morning and early afternoon period of 10am to 2pm with Sunday and Monday having the highest peaks during this time.

Sources: AIHW National Non-Admitted Patient Emergency Department Care Database.

Note:  Only includes records where patient was aged 19 and over and patient’s sex recorded as female.

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