Injury mortality and socioeconomic influence in Australia 2015–16

An analysis of the changes over time in Transport crash injury deaths for the lowest (most disadvantaged) and the highest (least disadvantaged) socioeconomic groups is shown in Figure 3.3. Over the period from 2009–10 to 2015–16 rates of injury deaths in the lowest (most disadvantaged) group ranged from 1.9 to 2.4 times as high, annually, as rates in the highest (least disadvantaged) group.

Rates of injury deaths decreased over time for both the lowest and highest socioeconomic groups. For the lowest (most disadvantaged) group, rates of injury deaths decreased from 8.3 to 7.4 deaths per 100,000 between 2009–10 and 2015–16.

The drop in the modelled rate averaged 2.6% per year and was statistically significant. For the highest (least disadvantaged) group, rates of injury deaths decreased from 4.4 to 3.4 deaths per 100,000 between 2009–10 and 2015–16. The drop in the modelled rate averaged 3.7% per year and was statistically significant.

Figure 3.3: Modelled age-standardised rates of Transport crash injury deaths, by lowest and highest socioeconomic groups, Australia, 2009–10 to 2015–16

Notes

1. The solid lines represent 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 S27 in the supplementary tables spreadsheet.

An analysis of Transport crash injury death rates, by age group, over the 7-year period reveals variation by age in both the lowest and highest socioeconomic groups. Figure 3.4 shows the average annual percentage change in rate 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 decreased in all but the oldest age group over the period from 2009–10 to 2015–16. The largest average annual decrease in this socioeconomic group was for those aged 15–24 (5.7%). For this socioeconomic group, the only average annual changes in rates which were statistically significant were for those aged 15–24 and 25–44.

For those in the highest (least disadvantaged) socioeconomic group, rates of injury deaths decreased in 3 of the age groups over the period. The largest average annual decrease in this group (11.9%) was for those aged 15–24. This age group was the only group where the average annual change in rates was statistically significant. Results for children aged 0–14 in the highest (least disadvantaged) group were not shown, due to low case numbers.

Figure 3.4: Average annual percentage change in rate of Transport crash injury deaths, by lowest and highest socioeconomic groups, by age group, Australia, 2009–10 to 2015–16

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 transport crash injury deaths was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in those aged 15–24 and 25–44 in the lowest socioeconomic group and in those aged 15–24 in the highest socioeconomic group.
3. Data underpinning this figure can be found in Table S28 in the supplementary tables spreadsheet.