All injury deaths

An analysis of changes over time for the lowest (most disadvantaged) and highest (least disadvantaged) socioeconomic groups for all injury deaths is shown in Figure 3.1. Over the period from 2009–10 to 2015–16, annual rates of injury deaths in the lowest (most disadvantaged) group ranged from 1.3 to 1.5 times as high as rates in the highest (least disadvantaged) group.

Rates of injury deaths increased over time for the lowest (most disadvantaged) socioeconomic group, but little change over time was observed for the highest (least disadvantaged) socioeconomic group. For the lowest (most disadvantaged) group, rates of injury deaths increased from 49.9 deaths per 100,000 in 2009–10 to 54.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2015–16. The rise in the modelled rate averaged 1.1% per year and was statistically significant.

Figure 3.1: Modelled age-standardised rates of all injury deaths, by lowest and highest socioeconomic groups, Australia, 2009–10 to 2015–16

Line chart showing deaths per 100,000 population for 7 years

Notes

  1. The solid line represents the modelled rates from 2009–10 to 2015–16. The filled symbols represent the observed age-standardised rate value for each year.
  2. Data underpinning this figure can be found in Table S25 in the supplementary tables spreadsheet.

An analysis of injury death rates by age group over the 7-year period reveals variation by age in both the lowest and highest socioeconomic groups. Figure 3.2 shows the annual percentage change in rates of injury deaths for 6 age groups within these 2 socioeconomic groups.

For those in the lowest (most disadvantaged) socioeconomic group, rates of injury deaths increased in 4 of the age groups over the period. The largest average annual increase in this socioeconomic group (3.5%) was for children aged 5–14. However, for this socioeconomic group, the only average annual change in rates which was statistically significant was for those aged 45–64, who recorded an average annual increase in rates of 2.9%.

For those in the highest (least disadvantaged) socioeconomic group, rates of injury deaths increased in 3 of the age groups over the period. The largest average annual increase in this socioeconomic group (6.2%) was for children aged 0–4. However, for this socioeconomic group, none of the average annual changes in rates for any age group were statistically significant.

Figure 3.2: Average annual percentage change in rates of all injury deaths, by lowest and highest socioeconomic groups, by age group, Australia, 2009–10 to 2015–16

Bar chart showing annual per cent change for 6 age groups

Notes

  1. Age-specific rates are standardised using populations by socioeconomic status groups, which do not include persons in areas for which the socioeconomic status could not be determined.
  2. As indicated by the (#) symbol, the average annual change in rates of injury deaths was only statistically significant (p < 0.05) in those aged 45–64 in the lowest socioeconomic group.
  3. Data underpinning this figure can be found in Table S26 in the supplementary tables spreadsheet.