Indicator:

Chronic conditions (grouped, not by diagnosis)

Policy context:

Chronic diseases are conditions with persistent effects that usually have complex causality, a long developmental period, a prolonged course and result in functional impairment or disability.¹ Examples of chronic diseases are diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and respiratory diseases. Chronic diseases currently pose the greatest burden of ill health in Australia having a significant personal and community burden as well as substantial economic costs (healthcare expenses and reduced productivity).¹

Having a chronic condition in childhood threatens the trajectory of typical development and is associated with increased risk of disability, hospitalisation, premature mortality and psychological problems as well as poorer physical and psychosocial outcomes in adulthood.²⁻⁵

Notably, the limitations that chronic illness places on development (e.g. cognitive limitations, social limitations and emotional distress) can impact a child’s school readiness which affects their academic achievement and therefore has ramifications for long term health and wellbeing.³ There is evidence that the way chronic illnesses impact the social and emotional development and academic achievement of children is shared across the range of conditions and their severities.³ʼ⁶

Identifying the incidence of chronic diseases geographically can inform policy that aims to improve the health outcomes of children in the state for the lifespan.¹⁻³

References:

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Chronic Disease Overview. 2017 [cited 2018 May 8]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/health-conditions-disability-deaths/chronic-disease/overview

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Selected Chronic Diseases Among Australian Children. 2017 [cited 2018 May 8]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/australias-welfare-2017/contents/summary

3. Bell M, Bayliss D, Glauert R, Harrison A, Ohan J. Chronic illness and developmental vulnerability at school entry. Paediatrics, 2016; 137(5). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-2475

4. Gledhill J, Rangel L, Garralda E. Surviving chronic physical illness: Psychosocial outcome in adult life. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2000; 83(2):104-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/adc.83.2.104

5. Stam H, Hartman E, Deurloo J, Groothoff J, Grootenhuis M. Young adult patients with a history of paediatric disease: Impact on course of life and transition into adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2006; 39(1):4-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.03.011

6. Stein RE, Jessop DJ. What diagnosis does not tell: The case for a noncategorical approach to chronic illnesses in childhood. Social Science & Medicine, 1989; 29(6):769-778. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(89)90157-3

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Hospital Morbidity Data Collection, Department of Health Western Australia; ABS Estimated Residential Population estimates

Numerator:

Chronic physical illness related hospitalisations for selected age group

Denominator:

Total ERP for selected age group

Unit of measure:

Per 10,000 population

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

The HMDC includes all episodes of care that occur in the following Western Australian health services:

• Public acute hospitals

• Public psychiatric hospitals

• Private acute hospitals (licensed by WA Health System)

• Private psychiatric hospitals (licensed by WA Health System

• Private day surgeries (licensed by WA Health System)

Click here to view chronic conditions (identified using ICD classification codes)

Indicator:

Disability related hospitalisations for selected age group (grouped, not by diagnosis)

Policy context:

A disability is defined as any impairment that impacts an individuals’ daily tasks or ‘core activities’ (communication, self-care or mobility) and has lasted, or is likely to last, more than 6 months.¹ Disability encompasses physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory and neurological conditions or a combination of these.² The severity of a disability can range from mild (needs no help and has no difficulty with core activities but uses aids or has impairments in other areas) to profound (unable to do or always needs help with core activities)1. In 2012, 7% of children aged 0-17 in Australia were experiencing disability.³

Around two thirds (67%) of Australian children with a disability require assistance with daily activities (e.g. communication, mobility, self-care). Many children with disabilities have learning and social difficulties at school.⁴ In addition to challenges faced by the child, disability impacts the entire family unit. The assistance and care (both formal and informal) of a child with disability often results in parents and/or carers having reduced income, increased expenses, poorer emotional and physical wellbeing and strained relationships.⁴ Significant evidence has supported the effectiveness of early intervention for children with developmental disabilities.⁴

Across the life span, having a disability is associated with poorer health behaviours and adverse health outcomes5. Further, disability is associated with poorer social engagement and education. These outcomes could be related directly to the disability itself or a result of limited access (due to an individual’s disability) to appropriate information, services and support that foster wellbeing. People with disability have higher rates of mental illness, psychological distress, arthritis, smoking and a range of other health conditions than the general population.⁵

Given the challenges and needs of children with disability and their families, understanding the proportion of children with disability in particular geographical regions can assist policy makers and service providers in decision making to improve outcomes.

References:

1. Australian Bureau of statistics. Canberra ACT. 4430.0 - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings. 2015 [cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4430.0

2. Government of Western Australia. Disability Services Act 1993, Government of Western Australia.

3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Canberra ACT. 4427.0 - Young People with Disability, 2012 [cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats%5Cabs@.nsf/0/FCF8C781B2CB45AFCA257CC9001442E3?Opendocument

4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Canberra ACT. 4102.0 - Australian Social Trends. 2012 [cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features10Jun+2012

5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Australia’s Health. No. 15. Cat.no. AUS 199. 2016 [cited 2018 May 15]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health-2016/contents/summary

6. Mackenbach JP. Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health. Socioeconomic inequalities in health in high-income countries: The facts and the options. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780199661756.001.0001

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Hospital Morbidity Data Collection, Department of Health Western Australia; ABS Estimated Residential Population estimates

Numerator:

Disability related hospitalisations for selected age group

Denominator:

Total ERP for selected age group

Unit of measure:

Per 10,000 population

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

The HMDC includes all episodes of care that occur in the following Western Australian health services:

• Public acute hospitals

• Public psychiatric hospitals

• Private acute hospitals (licensed by WA Health System)

• Private psychiatric hospitals (licensed by WA Health System

• Private day surgeries (licensed by WA Health System)

Click here to view disability groupings (identified using ICD classification codes)

Indicator:

Alcohol and other drug related injury hospitalisations for selected age group

Policy context:

Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are the substances most frequently used by young people.¹ Common alcohol and drug related health problems experienced by young people are road traffic injuries, assault, depression and self-harm, brain damage, overdose and blood borne disease (e.g. hepatitis C).² These adverse health outcomes or injuries place a burden on communities and the health system. Young males have significantly higher rates of alcohol and drug use and related injuries than females.³

In addition to the initial injury or problem, young people admitted to hospital for alcohol or other drug related injuries also have higher suicide risk than their peers.⁴ Further, though not all alcohol and drug related injuries are experienced by people with a substance use disorder, it is reasonable to assume that a substantial portion are. Thus, it is relevant to note that substance use disorders are among the most common mental health disorders experienced by young people in Australia and the fourth highest contributor to the burden of disease in this age group.⁴ʼ⁵

There is evidence that substance abuse can be reduced by addressing relevant risk factors such as early exposure to a substance or poor mental health, and by increasing protective factors such as early patterns of healthy behaviours.⁷ʼ⁸ Being able to understand pattern injury related to drug and alcohol use according to geographical area therefore has the advantage of allowing policy makers and service providers to make informed choices about targeted interventions to improve outcomes. Using this data alongside other social information (such as unemployment and income) could be especially important as a range of social factors are risk factors associated with alcohol and drug abuse.⁸

References:

1. White V, Bariola E. Australian secondary school students' use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the counter and illicit substances in 2011. Cancer Council of Victoria, 2012 [cited 2018 May 23].

2. Department of Health, Western Australia. Injury prevention in Western Australia: A Review of state-wide activity for Selected Injury Areas. Perth; Chronic Disease Prevention Directorate. 2015 [cited 2018 May 23]. Available from: https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Reports-and-publications/Injury-Prevention-in-Western-Australia-A-Review-of-Statewide-Activity-for-Selected-Injury-Areas

3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Young Australians: Their health and wellbeing, 2011. Cat. no. PHE 140. [cited 2018 May 23]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/young-australians-their-health-and-wellbeing-2011/contents/table-of-contents

4. Kmietowicz Z. Young people with injuries from alcohol, drugs, or violence show increased suicide risk. British Medical Journal, 2017; 357. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j2589

5. Gore F, Bloem J, Patton G, Ferguson J, Joseph V, Coffey C, et al. Global burden of disease in young people aged 10-24 years: A systematic analysis. The Lancet, 2011; 377(9783): 2093-2102. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60512-6

6. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra ACT. Impact of alcohol and illicit drug use on the burden of disease and injury in Australia: Australian Burden of Disease Study 2011. [cited 2018 May 29]. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/impact-alcohol-illicit-drug-use-on-burden-disease/contents/table-of-contents

7. Bränström R, Sjöström E, Andréasson S. Individual, group and community risk and protective factors for alcohol and drug use among Swedish adolescents. European Journal of Public Health, 2007; 18(1):12-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckm038

8. Hawkins JD, Catalano RF, Miller JY. Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention. Psychological Bulletin, 1992; 112(1):64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.64

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Hospital Morbidity Data Collection, Department of Health Western Australia; ABS Estimated Residential Population estimates

Numerator:

Alcohol and other drug related injury hospitalisations for selected age group

Denominator:

Total ERP for selected age group

Unit of measure:

Per 10,000 population

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

The HMDC includes all episodes of care that occur in the following Western Australian health services:

• Public acute hospitals

• Public psychiatric hospitals

• Private acute hospitals (licensed by WA Health System)

• Private psychiatric hospitals (licensed by WA Health System

• Private day surgeries (licensed by WA Health System)

Click here to view alcohol and other drug related injuries (identified using ICD classification codes)

Indicator:

Type of hospitalisation by selected age group

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Hospital Morbidity Data Collection, Department of Health Western Australia; ABS Estimated Residential Population estimates

Numerator:

Total hospitalisations by type for selected age group

Denominator:
Total ERP for selected age group

Unit of measure:

Per 10,000 population

Geography:

SA2, SA3, LGA, HR, RDC

Data confidentiality:

Areas with count values 1 to 4 and where population is less than 50 have been suppressed.

Prior moving averages combine a sequence of 3 or 5 years of data prior to, and including, the selected year. The series are presented as overlapping sequences until the most recent year is included. Moving averages make it possible to combine more years of data to maximize sample size at each point while maintaining data confidentiality.

Notes:

The HMDC includes all episodes of care that occur in the following Western Australian health services:

• Public acute hospitals

• Public psychiatric hospitals

• Private acute hospitals (licensed by WA Health System)

• Private psychiatric hospitals (licensed by WA Health System

• Private day surgeries (licensed by WA Health System)

Indicator:

Number of children fully immunised by selected age group

Data source:

Compiled by UWA and Telethon Kids Institute based on Australian Immunisation Register data, Department of Health Australia

Numerator:

Number of children fully immunised by selected age group

Denominator:
Total children in selected age group

Unit of measure:

Percent (%)

Geography:

SA3

Data confidentiality:

Not applicable

Notes:

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register that records all vaccines given to all people in Australia. Data is presented as an annualised (rolling four quarters) percentage.

The data shows the percentage of children fully immunised at age 12 months, 24 months and 60 months according to the National Immunisation Program Schedule.