Chapter 4 Population focus: neonates and infants This chapter will examine the incidence and causes, as well as other demographic and individual characteristics, of those deaths of ACT residents under the age of one year that occurred in the ACT, with particular reference to the last five years. Overview This section will look at the broader incidence of mortality among neonates and infants in the ACT. In total 82 ACT residents under the age of one year died, with three of those having died elsewhere. There were 27 interstate residents who died in the ACT and there are five cases before the Coroner. With those children who usually reside elsewhere (n=27) and coronial cases (n=5) removed from these analyses, the following analysis relates to 77 children who were residents of the ACT. The Committee is working more closely with the ACT Perinatal Mortality Committee. While these analyses examine the numbers of deaths within this cohort, detailed analyses are available through the reports of the ACT Perinatal Mortality Committee. These can be found on the ACT Health website. Distribution across characteristics: sex and cause of death The following discussion focuses on the key demographic and individual characteristics of the population in question. Examination of these variables allows comparisons between groups and identification of trends within the total population to better inform and advocate for system, service or programmatic change. Examined here are sex and cause of death. Table 4.2: Key demographic and individual characteristics of the deaths of children and young people in the ACT under the age of one year, July 2015 – December 2016 and January 2012 – December 2016 July 2015 – December 2016 (18 months) January 2012 – December 2016 (5 years) CHARACTERISTIC DEATHS DEATHS number per cent number per cent Total Persons 0–1 year of age 20 100 77 100 Sex Female 8 44.8 36 46.8 Male 12 55.2 41 53.2 Sex In the five years to December 2016, 77 children died in the first year of life with a relatively even split between males and females, slightly skewed toward a higher incidence of male deaths. The distribution between male and female deaths in the 18-month period between July 2015 and December 2016 is slightly more skewed toward male deaths but this is likely due to year-on-year fluctuations. Cause of death Table 4.3 below presents the main causes of death for the five years between January 2012 and December 2016 of ACT children under the age of one year. As highlighted in a previous chapter, this cohort accounts for
Appendix 3 Methodology Date of death reporting for the register For the purpose of this report, the Committee has determined it will recognise the actual date of death of each child or young person in the ACT, rather than the registered date of death. This will provide an actual number of child and young person deaths for the reported five-year period and allow for a more accurate reflection of what was occurring at the time of the child or young person’s death, namely the circumstances, risk factors, relevant agencies’ policies and practices, and the political environment at that time. The time between the actual date of death and the registered date of death may be significant and, in that time, there may have been changes in the aforementioned circumstances. However, there may need to be adjustments if additional deaths of children and young people are registered at a later time. As the Committee is using the actual date of death rather than the registered date of death, there may be discrepancies between the information in this report and the information reported by the ACT BDM and other Australian jurisdictions. Less than five total deaths When a particular cohort of children and young people has fewer than five total deaths, the exact number of deaths will not be reported. This will ensure that the Committee complies with section 727S(3) of the Act and does not disclose the identity of a child or young person who has died or allow the identity of a child or young person who has died to be worked out. The number of deaths will be reported as , which means the number of children and young people who died is less than five but greater than zero. When a cause of death has fewer than five deaths, this report will not provide more detailed information about this cohort. This is not only to ensure the Committee’s compliance with section 727S(3) of the Act, but to ensure the child, young person and family’s right to privacy is maintained. Population estimates and rates The population estimates of the ACT and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are taken from the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) release of estimated resident populations, which provides the estimated resident population as at 30 June 2014 and a projected resident population at 30 June 2016. Rates are calculated using child death data contained in the register and both ABS estimated (2009 to 2014) and projected (2016) statistics of the ACT population. These rates are calculated per 10 000 children and young people by dividing the total number of deaths by the total population in each age group.