Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in the Northern Territory.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the burden of disease and injury for the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in the Northern Territory.


METHODS
Analysis of Northern Territory data for 1 January 1994 to 30 December 1998 from multiple sources.


METHODS
Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), by age, sex, cause and Aboriginality.


RESULTS
Cardiovascular disease was the leading contributor (14.9%) to the total burden of disease and injury in the NT, followed by mental disorders (14.5%) and malignant neoplasms (11.2%). There was also a substantial contribution from unintentional injury (10.4%) and intentional injury (4.9%). Overall, the NT Aboriginal population had a rate of burden of disease 2.5 times higher than the non-Aboriginal population; in the 35-54-year age group their DALY rate was 4.1 times higher. The leading causes of disease burden were cardiovascular disease for both Aboriginal men (19.1%) and women (15.7%) and mental disorders for both non-Aboriginal men (16.7%) and women (22.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
A comprehensive assessment of fatal and non-fatal conditions is important in describing differentials in health status of the NT population. Our study provides comparative data to identify health priorities and facilitate a more equitable distribution of health funding.
Zhao
Yuejen
Y
Health Gains Planning, Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services, Casuarina, NT. yuejen.zhao@nt.gov.au
Guthridge
Steve
S
Magnus
Anne
A
Vos
Theo
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015876:Northern Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000208:ethnology*; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples