Unintentional falls remain the leading cause of injury hospitalisation and death for women since 2017–18, responsible for 122,800 (57%) hospitalisations and 3,400 (58%) deaths in 2022–23, according to a new report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Injury among women 2022– 23 explores the main causes of injury resulting in hospitalisation and death, as well as identifying trends over time. The report also examines the nature and severity of sustained injuries, variations between population groups and circumstances surrounding the injury.

‘Every year, thousands of women present to an emergency department or are hospitalised due to injury,’ said AIHW spokesperson Jacqueline Rek. 

‘Women contributed to 40% of all injury hospitalisations in 2022–23.’

Overall, injury was responsible for around 217,000 hospitalisations, 6,000 deaths and 537,000 emergency department presentations among women in 2022–23. Since 2017–18, after adjusting for age differences, hospitalisation rates have decreased from 1,900 to 1,850 per 100,000 population, while death rates have increased from 41.5 to 43.1 per 100,000 population.

Falls and fractures

The rate of fall injury hospitalisations increased with age. Women aged 65 and over accounted for 73% of all fall injury hospitalisations and almost all fall-related deaths (97%) among women in 2022–23.

‘Over half of all injury deaths (57%) were due to falls among women aged 65 and over,’ said Ms Rek.

‘The rate of death from falls was 66.5 times higher in women aged 65 and over than for women aged 40–64.’

Fractures were the most common type of injury hospitalisation across all age groups and the leading type of injury for emergency department presentations among women. Fractures of the hips or lower limbs were most common, causing 27,000 hospitalisations in 2022–23.

Self-harm and assault

After adjusting for age, the rate of intentional self-harm hospitalisations among women was the lowest it has been in the past decade (121 per 100,000 population). Over 4 in 5 (82%) injury hospitalisations for intentional self-harm involved self-poisoning in 2022–23.

The number of assault injury hospitalisations remained similar over a 5-year period, around 7,600 between 2017–18 and 2022–23, while the number of homicide deaths among women has increased from 48 to 63 over the same period.

The highest rate of injury assault (127 per 100,000) was among women aged 25–39. Women aged 65 and over had the highest rate of homicide (1 per 100,000) despite having the lowest rate of assault injury hospitalisation (16 per 100,000). 

Assault was the leading cause of injury hospitalisation among First Nations women in 2022–23, causing 3,700 hospitalisations. First Nations women disproportionately contributed to almost half (48%) of all assault injury hospitalisations for women.

After adjusting for differences in age, women living in Very remote areas are 43 times more likely to be hospitalised due to assault than women living in Major cities.

‘Women experience distinct patterns of injury due to various physiological, social and environmental factors including family, domestic and sexual violence, pregnancy, ageing, and mental health challenges,’ said Ms Rek. 

‘The monitoring work we undertake helps identify these patterns of injury to improve awareness and inform prevention measures.’

In 2024, the AIHW also examined injuries affecting men in Australia. For information, visit: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/injuries-affecting-men-in-australia-a-closer-look/contents/about.