Infants (less than one)
Infants under the age of one are more prone to certain types of injuries due to their developmental stage. At this age, infants are still developing their motor skills, coordination, and strength, which can make them more vulnerable to accidents and injuries. Additionally, infants are still learning about their environment and may not understand the dangers around them or how to avoid hazards (Kidsafe Tasmania 2014; Morrongiello & Matheis 2007).
Causes
Infants are more likely than adults to be hospitalised for injuries caused by drowning and submersion, choking and suffocation, and thermal causes. Girls make up the majority of cases caused by drowning and submersion, and thermal causes (Figure 21).
Figure 21. Injury hospitalisation rate ratios of infants aged under one compared to adults, and sex demographic proportions, by selected external cause, Australia, 2021–22
Nature of injuries sustained
Infants experience higher rates of injury hospitalisation and ED presentation than adults for certain types and sites of injuries (Figure 22). Infants are at higher risk of burns than adults, being 3.6 times more likely to have an ED presentation, and 2.5 times more likely to have an injury hospitalisation.
Figure 22: Selected rate ratios of injury emergency department presentations and hospitalisations among infants aged under one, by type of injury, 2021–22
Some types of injury vary further between children and adults by sex. When comparing girls with women, girls were:
- 1.6 times more likely than women to have an ED presentation for dislocations
- 1.3 times more likely than women to be hospitalised for intracranial injuries.
Head and neck injuries made up 70% of infant injury hospitalisations, and 63% of injury ED presentations. Infants are 3.9 times more likely than adults to have an ED presentation for an injury to the head and neck, and 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalised. Infants are also 2.4 times more likely to have an injury hospitalisation for other, multiple, and incompletely specified body regions.