Who have accidents? Socioeconomic factors and injury experience in the Auckland Urban Area.
by
Fraser Jackson
Victoria University of Wellington

Since injuries are one of the commonest medical problems for a large part of the population, there is interest in finding factors which might contribute to accident reducing policy measures. This study links ACC records and census area unit data to establish morbidity rates for age-sex groups and to construct some models which give an insight into which groups within the population are associated with higher risks. Three classes of models are used to illustrate the complexity of accident experience. Using aggregate data we show how patterns of the body part injured and injury diagnosis vary with age and sex. Using linked area unit data, regression models and meta-analysis we show that income and ethnicity are important variables associated with accident claim rates. Finally using area unit aggregates we show that several socioeconomic variables are associated with the observed claim rates. The difficulties of inference about appropriate policy measures is discussed.

Date received: August 18, 2000

Copyright © 2000 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # cadt-27.