%0 Journal Article
%T Cause and incidence of injuries experienced by children in remote Cape York Indigenous communities
%J Australian journal of primary health
%D 2019
%A West, Caryn
%A Fitts, Michelle S.
%A Rouen, Chris
%A Muller, Reinhold
%A Clough, Alan R.
%V 25
%N 2
%P 157-162
%X Indigenous children experience a disproportionally high number of injuries, particularly in remote communities. This study aimed to investigate: (1) the causes of injury to children within three remote Indigenous communities of Cape York, Australia; (2) differences between communities; and (3) if strengthening of alcohol restrictions reduced the incidence of injury. An injury profile for children aged 0-14 years was constructed for the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2011 using clinical file audit data from Primary Health Care Clinics located in each community. Children aged <14 years were responsible for 1461 injury presentations among 563 individuals. Males were responsible for 58.7% of presentations and 38% (n = 214) of children presented on three or more occasions. The leading causes of injury were falls (including sports); cutting and piercing; animals, insects and plants; transport and assault. There were variations in the order of major injury causes across the three communities. As primary causes of injury, falls and transport-related injuries aligned with other child populations. Cutting and piercing; animals, insects and plants; and assault-related injuries were more prevalent compared with other child populations. There was a significant difference in injury rates between communities and no significant difference before and after the strengthening of alcohol restrictions.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I CSIRO Publishing
%@ 1448-7527
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/PY18175