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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework - Summary report

Injury and poisoning

Injury and poisoning is the second leading cause of disease burden and third leading cause of death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It accounted for 15% (2,240) of deaths in 2015–2019.

The rate of death due to injury and poisoning among Indigenous Australians was 62 deaths per 100,000 population, with a rate 2.1 times as high for Indigenous males as females (84 compared with 40 per 100,000). After adjusting for differences in the age structure of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, there are large disparities between the two populations in the rates of underlying cause of death per 100,000 from all causes of injury and poisoning except for falls (Figure 4.11).

Figure 4.11: Rate of injury and poisoning deaths, top 5 causes, by Indigenous status, 2015–2019

A column charts show that the leading cause of injury and poisoning deaths for Indigenous Australians based on age-standardised rates was intentional self-harm, followed by accidental poisoning, transport accidents, falls and assault. Age-standardised rates were higher for Indigenous Australians than non-Indigenous Australians for all except falls.

Notes

1. Data from NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined.

2. Data are shown for the top 5 causes of injury and poisoning death for Indigenous Australians.

Source: Measure 1.03, Table D1.03.1 – AIHW National Mortality Database.

Among Indigenous Australians, the most common underlying causes of deaths from injury and poisoning in 2015–2019 were suicides (847 deaths; 38% of all injury and poisoning deaths), transport accidents (417 deaths; 19%), accidental poisoning (413 deaths; 18%), assault (174 deaths; 7.8%) and falls (101 deaths; 4.5%). Suicide and transport accidents accounted for a higher proportion of injury and poisoning deaths for Indigenous males, while accidental poisoning, assault and falls accounted for a higher proportion of injury and poisoning deaths for Indigenous females (Figure 4.12).

Figure 4.12: Leading causes of death due to injury and poisoning, as a proportion of total deaths, for Indigenous males and females, 2015–2019

This column chart shows suicide, transport accidents and accidental poisoning accounted for a higher proportion of deaths for Indigenous males than Indigenous females. The proportion of deaths that falls accounted for was similar for Indigenous males and females.

Note: Data from NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined.

Source: Measure 1.03, Table D1.03.1 – AIHW National Mortality Database.

In 2017–19, injury and poisoning was the most common broad cause of hospitalisation for Indigenous Australians (excluding dialysis). Between 2009–10 and 2018–19, the age-standardised hospitalisation rate due to injury and poisoning increased by 34%. The age-standardised death rate due to injury and poisoning among Indigenous Australians increased by 14% between 2010 and 2019 (Figure 4.13).

Figure 4.13: Rate of injury and poisoning hospitalisations (2009–10 to 2018–19) and deaths (2010–2019), by Indigenous status, (age-standardised)

The first line chart shows that the age-standardised rate of hospitalisations from injury and poisoning increased for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians between 2009-10 and 2018-19, while the gap increased. The second line chart shows that between 2010 and 2019, the age-standardised rate of death caused by injury and poisoning increased among Indigenous Australians, though to a lesser extent than for hospitalisations.

Notes

1. Data on hospitalisations from NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined.

2. Data on deaths from NSW, Qld, WA, SA and NT combined.

Sources: Measure 1.03, Table D1.03.5 – AIHW analysis of National Hospital Morbidity Database; and Measure 1.23, Table D1.23.19 – AIHW National Mortality Database.

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