Injury prevention in Australian Indigenous communities.
Injury prevention in Indigenous communities in Australia is a continuing national challenge, with Indigenous fatality rates due to injury three times higher than the general population. Suicide and transport are the leading causes of injury mortality, and assault, transport and falls the primary causes of injury morbidity. Addressing the complex range of injury problems in disadvantaged Indigenous communities requires considerable work in building or enhancing existing capacity of communities to address local safety issues. Poor data, lack of funding and absence of targeted programs are some of the issues that impede injury prevention activities. Traditional approaches to injury prevention can be used to highlight key areas of need, however adaptations are needed in keeping with Indigenous peoples' holistic approach to health, linked to land and linked to community in order to address the complex spiritual, emotional and social determinants of Indigenous injury.
Ivers
Rebecca
R
The George Institute for International Health, The University of Sydney, Australia. rivers@george.org.au
Clapham
Kathleen
K
Senserrick
Teresa
T
Lyford
Marilyn
M
Stevenson
Mark
M
D001315:Australia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011050:Policy Making; D016730:Program Development; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples