In Western Australia over three people die every day due to an injury-related incident1 and every year one in six people report an injury that required treatment by a health professional.2
The burden that injury places on the health care system through disability, premature death and trauma makes injury a serious public health issue, especially among certain sub-groups of the population. In WA, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, individuals who reside in regional locations, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities experience a higher rate of injury.
The unique demographics of these priority population groups, alongside several contributing factors can increase their risk of injury. Fortunately, by understanding the incidence of injury and the factors that are increasing the risk of an injury event occurring, we can implement interventions that reduce the likelihood of these priority population groups experiencing an injury.
To learn about the incidence of injury within WA priority population groups and how you can collectively work to reduce the risk of injury in WA click here.
References:
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 3303.0 Causes of Death, Western Australia, 2020. (2021).
2. Epidemiology Directorate. Health and Wellbeing of Adults in Western Australia 2020, Overview and Trends. https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Corp/Documents/Reports-and-publications/Population-surveys/Health-and-Wellbeing-of-Adults-in-WA-2020.pdf (2021).