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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Infection is the major component of the disease burden in aboriginal and non-aboriginal Australian children: a
Kylie S Carville1, Deborah Lehmann, Gillian Hall
1Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. kylie.carville@mh.org.au
Insights
Infections are the primary cause of hospitalization for children under two. Aboriginal children face a disproportionately high burden of serious infections, necessitating targeted public health interventions and improved healthcare funding.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Infectious diseases are a major cause of child mortality globally, yet data from developed nations are scarce.
- This study examined hospitalization reasons in young children, comparing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in Western Australia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the leading causes of hospitalization in children under two years of age.
- To compare the burden of infectious diseases and hospitalization rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized linked population-based data for live births between 1990 and 2000.
- Analyzed hospitalizations and deaths within the first two years of life for a cohort of 270,068 children.
Main Results:
- Infections, primarily respiratory and gastrointestinal, were the most common reason for hospitalization (34% of admissions).
- Aboriginal children exhibited significantly higher infection-related hospitalization rates (1114 vs. 242 per 1000 live births) and mortality.
- Pneumonia admission rates were 14 times higher in Aboriginal children compared to non-Aboriginal children.
Conclusions:
- Infections remain the leading cause of hospitalization for children under two.
- Urgent public health interventions, including vaccination programs and increased funding for Indigenous health services, are crucial to reduce the burden of serious infections.
- Addressing health disparities for Aboriginal children requires dedicated resources and strategic health initiatives.
Background:
Infection accounts for the majority of pediatric mortality and morbidity in developing countries, but there are limited data on the infectious diseases burden in children from developed countries. We investigated reasons for hospitalization before age 2 years in a birth cohort of Western Australian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.
Methods:
Data on live births between January 1990 and December 2000, and corresponding deaths and hospitalizations in the first 2 years of life, were obtained through linked population-based data.
Results:
Almost half the cohort of 270,068 children were hospitalized at least once. Aboriginal children had significantly higher admission rates (2196 vs. 779 per 1000 live births), stayed longer and were more likely to die in hospital than non-Aboriginal children. Infections (mainly respiratory and gastrointestinal) were the most common reason for hospitalization, accounting for 34% of all admissions, with higher rates in Aboriginal (1114 per 1000 live births) than non-Aboriginal children (242 per 1000) (P < 0.001). Over time, admission rates for infections declined in Aboriginal children but increased in non-Aboriginal children. Aboriginal children were admitted 14 times more often for pneumonia than non-Aboriginal children.
Conclusions:
Infections are the leading cause of hospitalization in children under 2 years of age. The continuing heavy burden of serious infections, borne disproportionately by Aboriginal children, needs to be alleviated. Public health interventions such as the development and universal implementation of vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus and influenza are needed, while adequate funding must be committed to Indigenous health services and training.
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