Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion for Urban Aboriginal Children and Youth in South Western Sydney

Aims


Injury reduction among urban Aboriginal children and youth is the focus of this study.

This study investigates the impact of injury on Aboriginal children and youth in South Western Sydney.

  • The aims of the study are to:
  • document the extent of injury in this population group
  • increase understanding of suitable injury prevention strategies and
  • propose community-based, collaborative local interventions that will reduce injury among urban Aboriginal children and youth, and promote their safety and resilience.

Methods

The study employs quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Stage 1 is a descriptive epidemiological study that documents the magnitude of the Aboriginal injury problem in the study setting by gathering routinely collected hospital data on all injury-related causes of death, hospital admission and hospital outpatient treatment.

Stage 2 involves qualitative field research using an ethnographic approach. Data are collected from a diverse range of sources in order to build up an extensive description of injury and its impact, the contexts in which it occurs, contributing factors and safety issues.

Stage 3 uses a community participatory approach to the design of an intervention.

The findings and analysis from stages 1 and 2 are fed back to the project reference group and community participants and informs the identification of partners and areas for intervention.

Status/Results

Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Sydney and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AHMRC). A local project reference group with a majority of Aboriginal members was formed to guide the progress of the research.

During Stage 1 of the study NSW health data were collected from the Health Outcomes Information and Statistical Toolkit (HOIST) database. Data analysis revealed consistently higher rates of hospitalisation and death as a result of injury in the Aboriginal population in NSW which is consistent with data reported for other parts of Australia. Of particular concern is the number of Indigenous deaths and hospitalisations due to interpersonal violence. These findings were published in the Medical Journal of Australia in March 2006.

During Stage 2 of the study face-to-face interviews and focus groups were conducted with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants representing a wide range of government and non-government agencies, and community organisations. Observation was carried out in schools and community settings. Analysis of the qualitative data has been undertaken and the results are being prepared for publication.

Stage 3 of the study is currently underway with key stakeholders in South West Sydney being engaged in the design of a school, family and community intervention to address Aboriginal child and youth safety.

Publications

Clapham KF, Stevenson MR, Lo SK. Injury profiles of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in New South Wales. Med J Aust. 2006 Mar 6;184(5):217-20.

[see abstract in PubMed]

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