Safety Snapshots

Potentially preventable hospitalisations

Potentially preventable hospitalisations are counted as admissions to hospital that may have been prevented by timely and adequate care in the community. In Australia, 22 conditions are considered preventable. These conditions are categorised into 3 broad areas, namely chronic, acute and vaccine-preventable conditions.

In 2018, there were approximately 5,800 potentially preventable hospitalisations of children and young people aged birth to 17 years in South Australia, comprising 13% of all hospitalisations of children and young people.

Deaths as a result of injury

In 2014-16, 48 children and young people (birth-14 years) in South Australia died as a result of injury (a rate of 5.3 per 100,000 population).

The highest rate of death due to injury (7.5 per 100,000 population) was for young children (birth-4 years). The rate for 5-9 year olds was 3.9 per 100,000 population and for 10-14 year olds the rate was 4.5 per 100,000 population. 

Nationally in 2014-16, the rate of death due to injury was 4.1 per 100,000 population, a decrease since 2005-07, when the rate was 6.1 per 100,000 population.

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