Emergency Department Presentations by Children in Remote Australia: A Population-based Study

Philippa Jane Dossetor; Emily F.M. Fitzpatrick; Kathryn Glass; Kirsty Douglas; Rochelle Watkins; June Oscar; Maureen Carter; David Harley; Heather E. Jeffery; Elizabeth Jane Elliott; Alexandra L.C. Martiniuk

doi:10.1177/2333794X21991006

Emergency Department Presentations by Children in Remote Australia: A Population-based Study

Philippa Jane Dossetor^*, Emily F.M. Fitzpatrick, Kathryn Glass, Kirsty Douglas, Rochelle Watkins, June Oscar, Maureen Carter, David Harley, Heather E. Jeffery, Elizabeth Jane Elliott, Alexandra L.C. Martiniuk

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background. Aboriginal leaders invited us to examine the frequency and reasons for emergency department (ED) presentations by children in remote Western Australia, where Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) is common. Methods. ED presentations (2007-11 inclusive) were examined for all children born in the Fitzroy Valley in 2002-03. Results. ED data for 127/134 (94.7%) children (95% Aboriginal) showed 1058 presentations over 5-years. Most (81%) had at least 1 presentation (median 9.0, range 1-50). Common presentations included: screening/follow-up/social reasons (16.0%), injury (15.1%), diseases of the ear (14.9%), skin (13.8%), respiratory tract (13.4%), and infectious and parasitic diseases (9.8%). PAE and higher presentations rates were associated. Commonly associated socio-economic factors were household over-crowding, financial and food insecurity. Conclusion. Children in very remote Fitzroy Crossing communities have high rates of preventable ED presentations, especially those with PAE. Support for culturally appropriate preventative programs and improved access to primary health services need to be provided in remote Australia.

Original language	English
Journal	Global Pediatric Health
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X21991006
Publication status	Published - 2021

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@article{f308ed17a2fd4404b693d9453953bb73,

title = "Emergency Department Presentations by Children in Remote Australia: A Population-based Study",

abstract = "Background. Aboriginal leaders invited us to examine the frequency and reasons for emergency department (ED) presentations by children in remote Western Australia, where Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) is common. Methods. ED presentations (2007-11 inclusive) were examined for all children born in the Fitzroy Valley in 2002-03. Results. ED data for 127/134 (94.7%) children (95% Aboriginal) showed 1058 presentations over 5-years. Most (81%) had at least 1 presentation (median 9.0, range 1-50). Common presentations included: screening/follow-up/social reasons (16.0%), injury (15.1%), diseases of the ear (14.9%), skin (13.8%), respiratory tract (13.4%), and infectious and parasitic diseases (9.8%). PAE and higher presentations rates were associated. Commonly associated socio-economic factors were household over-crowding, financial and food insecurity. Conclusion. Children in very remote Fitzroy Crossing communities have high rates of preventable ED presentations, especially those with PAE. Support for culturally appropriate preventative programs and improved access to primary health services need to be provided in remote Australia.",

keywords = "Aboriginal, Australia, emergency department presentation, pediatric, rural and remote",

author = "Dossetor, {Philippa Jane} and Fitzpatrick, {Emily F.M.} and Kathryn Glass and Kirsty Douglas and Rochelle Watkins and June Oscar and Maureen Carter and David Harley and Jeffery, {Heather E.} and Elliott, {Elizabeth Jane} and Martiniuk, {Alexandra L.C.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021.",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1177/2333794X21991006",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Global Pediatric Health",

issn = "2333-794X",

publisher = "SAGE Publications",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Emergency Department Presentations by Children in Remote Australia

T2 - A Population-based Study

AU - Dossetor, Philippa Jane

AU - Fitzpatrick, Emily F.M.

AU - Glass, Kathryn

AU - Douglas, Kirsty

AU - Watkins, Rochelle

AU - Oscar, June

AU - Carter, Maureen

AU - Harley, David

AU - Jeffery, Heather E.

AU - Elliott, Elizabeth Jane

AU - Martiniuk, Alexandra L.C.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Background. Aboriginal leaders invited us to examine the frequency and reasons for emergency department (ED) presentations by children in remote Western Australia, where Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) is common. Methods. ED presentations (2007-11 inclusive) were examined for all children born in the Fitzroy Valley in 2002-03. Results. ED data for 127/134 (94.7%) children (95% Aboriginal) showed 1058 presentations over 5-years. Most (81%) had at least 1 presentation (median 9.0, range 1-50). Common presentations included: screening/follow-up/social reasons (16.0%), injury (15.1%), diseases of the ear (14.9%), skin (13.8%), respiratory tract (13.4%), and infectious and parasitic diseases (9.8%). PAE and higher presentations rates were associated. Commonly associated socio-economic factors were household over-crowding, financial and food insecurity. Conclusion. Children in very remote Fitzroy Crossing communities have high rates of preventable ED presentations, especially those with PAE. Support for culturally appropriate preventative programs and improved access to primary health services need to be provided in remote Australia.

AB - Background. Aboriginal leaders invited us to examine the frequency and reasons for emergency department (ED) presentations by children in remote Western Australia, where Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) is common. Methods. ED presentations (2007-11 inclusive) were examined for all children born in the Fitzroy Valley in 2002-03. Results. ED data for 127/134 (94.7%) children (95% Aboriginal) showed 1058 presentations over 5-years. Most (81%) had at least 1 presentation (median 9.0, range 1-50). Common presentations included: screening/follow-up/social reasons (16.0%), injury (15.1%), diseases of the ear (14.9%), skin (13.8%), respiratory tract (13.4%), and infectious and parasitic diseases (9.8%). PAE and higher presentations rates were associated. Commonly associated socio-economic factors were household over-crowding, financial and food insecurity. Conclusion. Children in very remote Fitzroy Crossing communities have high rates of preventable ED presentations, especially those with PAE. Support for culturally appropriate preventative programs and improved access to primary health services need to be provided in remote Australia.

KW - Aboriginal

KW - Australia

KW - emergency department presentation

KW - pediatric

KW - rural and remote

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U2 - 10.1177/2333794X21991006

DO - 10.1177/2333794X21991006

M3 - Article

SN - 2333-794X

VL - 8

JO - Global Pediatric Health

JF - Global Pediatric Health

ER -

Emergency Department Presentations by Children in Remote Australia: A Population-based Study

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