4105.0 - Children and Youth News, Nov 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/11/2006   
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LATEST FINDINGS


ASTHMA AND INJURIES IN CHILDREN AGED 0–14 YEARS

Asthma

Recent data from the ABS' National Health Survey, 2004–05 shows there were 12% (451,500) of children aged 0–14 years with (current and long-term) asthma, a decrease from 13% in 2001. In 2004–05, the prevalence of asthma in children increased with age, with children 0–4 years with the lowest (7%) followed by children 5–9 years (13%) and 10–14 years (14%).

PERCENTAGE WITH CURRENT AND LONG-TERM ASTHMA
Graph: Percentage with Current and Long-term Asthma

In 2004–05, boys aged 0–14 years were more likely to report current and long-term asthma than girls of the same age, 13% compared with 10%. This was the case for those children in each of the age groups, 0–4 years, 5–9 years and 10–14 years.

Injuries

In 2004–05, 25% (969,000) of children aged 0–14 years had a recent injury (in the four weeks prior to the interview) that required action such as consulting a health professional or reducing usual activity. The prevalence of recent injury for children was similar for boys and girls, 24% compared to 25%. The proportion of girls who had a recent injury in the 0–4 year age group was higher than boys (28% compared with 22%) whereas the proportion of boys who had a recent injury in the 10–14 year age group was higher than girls (22% compared with 20%).

PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN RECENTLY INJURED (a), 2004–05
Graph: Percentage of Children Recently Injured, 2004-05

The most common type of injury event was a low fall for both boys and girls, 43% compared with 44%. Of those children recently injured, the proportion with a recent injury from a low fall was higher for the younger age group 0–4 years (50%) followed by 5–9 years (44%) and 10–14 years (35%).

For more information on asthma and injuries see Asthma in Australia: A Snapshot 2004–05 (cat. no. 4819.0.55.001) and Injury in Australia: A Snapshot 2004–05 (cat. no. 4825.0.55.001).