The Health Status of Australia’s children Mortality and Morbidity

Australian children have best health status in the country of all age groups Their health status is amongst the best in the world Indigenous children and low SES children don’t enjoy the same health status Rates of infant deaths are low and declining

Mortality and Morbidity Mortality is the term used for the number of people who died within a population Morbidity refers to the state of being diseased or unhealthy within a population. Mortality is the term used for the number of people who died within a population

Mortality Infant mortality rates –Have fallen considerably –Still account for half of all deaths below age 20 –Risk decreases as children get older –Mostly due to problems with the birth or pregnancy –Most mortalities occur just before or after birth –Decreased mortality rates due to Reduction in SIDS deaths (reducing risk factors) Child mortality fallen due to advances in medicine and technology –Most child mortalities are associated with injuries and poisonings –Younger children mortality rates twice as high then older children

Leading causes of infant mortality: 2008 AIHW

SIDS prevention strategies include: putting the infant to sleep on their back, a firm mattress separate from but close to caregivers, no loose bedding, a relatively cool sleeping environment, using a pacifier, and avoidance of exposure to tobacco smoke

Notes 1.Refer to Table A1.2 for ICD-10 codes. 2. Other causes accounted for 17% of child deaths among 1–14 year olds in 2004–2006. Source: AIHW National Mortality Database. Figure 4.5: Leading causes of death among children aged 1–14 years, 2004–2006

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) identified a number of health concerns for Australia’s children: –communicable diseases (discuss immunisation program) –injuries –high rates of overweight and obesity –insufficient physical activity –poor eating habits –mental health problems –long-term health conditions such as asthma and diabetes –..\..\..\Health publications\A picture of Australia’s children 2009 (AIHW) - SUMMARY.doc..\..\..\Health publications\A picture of Australia’s children 2009 (AIHW) - SUMMARY.doc

Injuries Injury rates have decreased, but is still the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability among Australian toddlers and children One in four children (25 per cent) had some kind of injury in the previous four weeks that required a “health action” (self-help or professional help) Second leading cause of hospitalisations overall for children

Top Ten Accidents To Children Car passengers Pedestrians Poisoning House fires Falls Drowning Nursery furniture Dog bites Scalds Bikes, inline skates and skateboards Top Ten Accidents To Children

Overweight and obesity Over the past 20 years, obesity rates have more than doubled It is predicted that 75 per cent of the Australian population will be overweight or obese by the year 2020 Discuss: –What are all the lifestyle factors that cause obesity? –Why is obesity a health issue?

Mental Health 2004–05, it was estimated that 7 per cent of Australian children had a long-term mental or behavioural problem

Mental Health

Asthma Between 10 and 20 per cent of the population will have to deal with it at some stage in their lives, and it especially affects children In 2008, the AIHW reported that asthma is the most common long-term condition (lasting more than six months) for children, affecting 12 per cent of all children Higher prevalence in boys than in girls

Parent reported cases of asthma in children 0-14 years

Diabetes Australia has a high rate of diabetes among children Australia is one of ten countries with the highest incidence of Type 1 diabetes among children in the world Types 2 diabetes diagnosis in children is feared to increase with increasing obesity levels

Morbidity Babies of low birth weight more likely to become sick or die prematurely Low birth weight caused by: –Teratogens –Mothers age –Access to antenatal care –Mother smoking during pregnancy Indigenous mothers twice as likely to give birth to low birth weight babies Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world (mother smoking, exposure to smoke, air pollution and other pollutants) Psychological problems contribute a lot to the burden of disease Diabetes also becoming a big contributor too Poor dental health – but has been declining since 1970s

Most frequently reported chronic conditions

Hospitalisations among children aged 5-12 years

Hospitalisations among children aged 5-12 years from accidental causes