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Citation
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Holloway-Kew KL, Baker TR, Sajjad MA, Yosef T, Kotowicz MA, Adams J, Brumby S, Page RS, Sutherland AG, Kavanagh BE, Brennan-Olsen SL, Williams LJ, Pasco JA. Aust. J. Rural Health 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Abstract
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INTRODUCTION: Farm workers are at high risk for injuries, and epidemiological data are needed to plan resource allocation.
OBJECTIVE: This study identified regions with high farm-related injury rates in the Barwon South West region of Victoria, Australia, for residents aged ≥50 yr.
DESIGN: Retrospective synthesis using electronic medical records of emergency presentations occurring during 2017-2019 inclusive for Local Government Areas (LGA) in the study region. For each LGA, age-standardised incidence rates (per 1000 population/year) were calculated.
FINDINGS: For men and women combined, there were 31 218 emergency presentations for any injury, and 1150 (3.68%) of these were farm-related. The overall age-standardised rate for farm-related injury presentations was 2.6 (95% CI 2.4-2.7); men had a higher rate than women (4.1, 95% CI 3.9-4.4 versus 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.3, respectively). For individual LGAs, the highest rates of farm-related emergency presentations occurred in Moyne and Southern Grampians, both rural LGAs. Approximately two-thirds of farm-related injuries occurred during work activities (65.0%), and most individuals arrived at the hospital by transport classified as "other" (including private car, 83.3%). There were also several common injury causes identified: "other animal related injury" (20.2%), "cutting, piercing object" (19.5%), "fall ⟨1 m" (13.1%), and "struck by or collision with object" (12.5%). Few injuries were caused by machinery (1.7%) and these occurred mainly in the LGA of Moyne (65%).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study provides data to inform future research and resource allocation for the prevention of farm-related injuries.
Language: en |