At risk in two worlds: injury mortality among indigenous people in the US and Australia, 1990-92

Abstract

This paper outlines the commonalties and unique differences in injury experience among the indigenous people in the United States and Australia. Injury mortality rates among Indigenous people in the United States and Australia are approximately 2-3 times greater than rates for the non-Indigenous population in each country. Motor vehicle-related injuries accounted for one-third of the injury deaths for Native Americans and Australian Aboriginals. Suicide accounted for more deaths in Native Americans (15.5 per 100,000) than it did for Australian Aboriginals (11.1 per 100,000), whereas the injury death rate in Australian Aboriginals due to poisoning was almost twice that of Native Americans. Culturally appropriate interventions tailored to specific local settings and problems will be necessary to reduce injury mortality among Indigenous people.