NSW Public Health Bulletin最新文献

We aimed to develop a maternity hospital classification, using stable and easily available criteria, that would have wide application in maternity services research and allow comparison across state, national and international jurisdictions. A classification with 13 obstetric groupings (12 hospital groups and home births) was based on neonatal care capability, urban and rural location, annual average number of births and public/private hospital status. In a case study of early elective birth we demonstrate that neonatal morbidity differs according to the maternity hospital classification, and also that the 13 groups can be collapsed in ways that are pragmatic from a clinical and policy decision-making perspective, and are manageable for analysis.

The reporting of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection was ascertained using a stratified purposive sample of NSW public hospital patients in 2010. Information was collected by interviewing patients and compared with patient information obtained on admission. The study used the methods used in the national survey by the AIHW in 2007 and the study results were compared to the AIHW survey results. The level of correct reporting was 90.7% (95% CI 84.6-94.2). These results, while indicative, should be interpreted with caution as some people may not have identified themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander either on hospital admission or in the survey, and non-random sampling can produce non-representative samples.

Unlabelled: Q fever is the most frequently notified zoonotic infection in NSW residents. The past decade has seen the introduction of a targeted national Q fever vaccination program.

Methods: We undertook a descriptive analysis of Q fever notifications in NSW, for the period 2001-2010.

Results: A total of 1912 cases of Q fever were notified in NSW between 2001 and 2010 (average 2.8 per 100 000 persons per annum). The majority of Q fever cases were reported in men, aged 40-59 years, living in rural NSW and working in agricultural related occupations.

Conclusion: The results suggest changes in the epidemiology of Q fever in response to the targeted vaccination program.

Aim: To describe the pattern of non-intentional farm-related fatalities in Australia for 2003-2006 and examine trends.

Methods: Data from the National Coroners Information System were analysed to define all non-intentional farm injury fatalities for the period.

Results: The incidence of farm fatalities has declined by 44% over the past 20 years from an average of 146 deaths per year to 82 deaths per year. For adults there are high numbers of fatalities related to tractors, quad bikes and farm utilities. Children aged under 15 years account for 17% of fatalities, with dams or other water bodies and quad bikes remaining the most common causes of non-intentional farm fatalities. Almost half of all on-farm non-intentional fatalities are non-work-related.

Conclusion: Future interventions targeting these priority areas are required to reduce the incidence of non-intentional farm-related fatalities within Australia.

Health Statistics NSW is a new web-based application developed by the Centre for Epidemiology and Research at the NSW Ministry of Health. The application is designed to be an efficient vehicle for the timely delivery of health statistics to a diverse audience including the general public, health planners, researchers, students and policy analysts. The development and implementation of this web application required the consideration of a series of competing demands such as: the public interest in providing health data while maintaining the privacy interests of the individuals whose health is being reported; reporting data at spatial scales of relevance to health planners while maintaining the statistical integrity of any inferences drawn; the use of hardware and software systems which are publicly accessible, scalable and robust, while ensuring high levels of security. These three competing demands and the relationships between them are discussed in the context of Health Statistics NSW.

Aim: To examine the use of the Medicare Teen Dental Plan in NSW, its uptake in the private and public dental sectors and to map the geographical pattern of program use.

Methods: Data describing the use of the Medicare Teen Dental Plan were assembled from a variety of sources including Medicare, the NSW Oral Health Data Collection and the NSW Teen Dental Survey 2010.

Results: In 2010, use of the Medicare Teen Dental Plan across the entire NSW eligible aged population ranged from 20 to 25.5%, with the average usage across all ages being 20.2%. For the period 2002 to 2010, the average utilisation rate for teenagers accessing public dental care was approximately 6.8%.

Conclusion: As a single Dental Benefits Schedule item is used for service provided under the Plan, it is difficult to evaluate the mix of dental treatment items and the comparative value of the service provided unless these services are provided in a public dental service with a data collection that can flag care provided under a Medicare Teen Dental Plan voucher.