Missing Voices: Profile, Extent, and 12-Month Outcomes of Nonfatal Traumatic Brain Injury in Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Adults in Western Australia Using Linked Administrative Records

Abstract

These findings suggest an urgent need for multisectoral primary prevention of TBI, as well as culturally secure and logistically appropriate medical and rehabilitation service delivery models to optimize outcomes.

A Qualitative Study on the Transition Support Needs of Indigenous Australians Following Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Australian studies indicate that assault plays a more prominent role in TBI rates for Indigenous Australians. A Western Australian study of person-linked hospital and mortality data (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) has found assault to be the mechanism of injury in over half (57%) of Indigenous Australian TBI hospital admissions (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018); in contrast, only one in five (20%) non-Indigenous patient admissions were due to assault (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018). Indigenous Australian women contributed to over 40% of these TBI admissions, double the proportion of their non-Indigenous counterparts (20.7%) (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018).…”

“…A Western Australian study of person-linked hospital and mortality data (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011) has found assault to be the mechanism of injury in over half (57%) of Indigenous Australian TBI hospital admissions (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018); in contrast, only one in five (20%) non-Indigenous patient admissions were due to assault (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018). Indigenous Australian women contributed to over 40% of these TBI admissions, double the proportion of their non-Indigenous counterparts (20.7%) (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018). These data reinforce findings from an earlier study which found that the rate of head injury-related hospitalisation for Indigenous people was 21 times higher than their non-Indigenous counterparts, and head injury due to assault for Indigenous women was 69 times the rate for non-Indigenous women (Jamieson et al, 2008).…”

“…Indigenous Australians admitted for TBI are also more likely to live remotely and have comorbidities such as chronic disease, mental health issues and substance misuse (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018). Alcohol is also more likely to be involved at the time of injury for Indigenous people in Australia and Canada (Blackmer & Marshall, 1999;Jayaraj et al, 2012).…”

‘I’ve got to row the boat on my own, more or less’: aboriginal australian experiences of traumatic brain injury

“…The study found there was higher likelihood of Aboriginal brain injury survivors living in non-metropolitan areas (82.5% vs. 51.5%). Katzenellenbogen et al (2018) reported that 56.4% of Aboriginal people in the study came from either remote or very remote areas as defined by the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia-Plus (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2004) as opposed to 10.6% of non-Aboriginal survivors. There was also a higher proportion of Aboriginal females (41.5% vs. 25.6%), a higher proportion of repeat injuries in Aboriginal survivors (23% vs. 7.4%), substantially higher assault-related TBI (57.4% vs. 19.6%) and higher levels of comorbidities.…”

“…& Marshall, 1999;Rutland-Brown, Wallace, Faul & Langlois, 2005), the US (Linton, 2015;Rutland-Brown et al, 2005), New Zealand (Feigin et al, 2013) and Australia (Jamieson, Harrison & Berry, 2008;Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018). In the Australian context, epidemiological data from Western Australia (WA) (Katzenellenbogen et al, 2018) demonstrate differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal TBI populations which have implications for service delivery. The study found there was higher likelihood of Aboriginal brain injury survivors living in non-metropolitan areas (82.5% vs. 51.5%).…”