This annual report - Taranaki District Health Board

INJURIES ARISING FROM ASSAULT IN YOUNGPEOPLEIntroductionIn 2007, the Youth’07 survey of 9,107 secondary school students from across NewZealand, assessed self-reported experiences of violence [290]. It found that while violentand anti-social behaviours had reduced since an earlier 2001 survey, experiences ofviolence were common. Overall, 47.9% of male students and 33.2% of female studentsreported having been deliberately hit or physically harmed, and 40.9% of male studentsand 26.8 % of female students reported having hit or physically harmed someone else.Being exposed to violence in the home, at school, or in the community, was stronglyassociated with instigating violence against others and being a victim of violence, both ofwhich in turn were linked to binge drinking.Viewed from a different perspective, the rate of Police apprehensions for violent offendingincreased for all age groups from 14 to 50 years between 1997 and 2007 [291]. The mostmarked increases were seen among those aged 14 to 16 years, with the rate peaking at194 per 10,000 population in 2007, compared to 167 per 10,000 population in 1995 [292].However, it is unclear whether this increase represents a true increase in violence,changes in reporting and policing practices, or a combination of these factors. Further,apprehension data represents the number of apprehensions, rather than the number ofoffenders, and excludes violence that is not officially reported or recorded [291].With these issues in mind, the following section explores hospital admissions and mortalityfrom injuries arising from assault in young people aged 15–24 years using information fromthe National Minimum Dataset and the National Mortality Collection.Data Source and MethodsDefinition1. Hospitalisations for injuries arising from assault in young people aged 15–24 years2. Deaths from injuries arising from assault in young people aged 15–24 yearsData Source1. Hospital AdmissionsNumerator: National Minimum Dataset: Hospital admissions in young people aged 15–24 years with a primarydiagnosis of injury (ICD-10-AM S00–T79) and an external cause code of intentional injury (ICD-10-AM X85–Y09) in any of the first 10 External Cause codes. As outlined in Appendix 3, in order to ensure comparabilityover time, all cases with an Emergency Department Specialty Code (M05–M08) on discharge were excluded.Denominator: NZ Statistics NZ Estimated Resident Population (projected from 2007)2. MortalityNumerator: National Mortality Collection: Deaths in young people aged 15–24 years with a clinical code (causeof death) of Intentional Injury (ICD-10-AM X85–Y09).Denominator: NZ Statistics NZ Estimated Resident Population (projected from 2007)InterpretationThe limitations of the National Minimum Dataset are discussed at length in Appendix 3. The reader is urged toreview this Appendix before interpreting any trends based on hospital admission data.New Zealand Distribution and TrendsNew Zealand TrendsIn New Zealand during 2000–2011, hospital admissions for injuries arising from assault inyoung people remained relatively static, while mortality during 2000–2009 fluctuated fromyear to year. On average during 2000–2009, 12.5 young people per year died from injuriesarising from an assault (Figure 121).Assault in Young People - 320