Closing the “injury gap”

A new study by Faculty of Medicine researchers shows a declining rate of hospitalization for injuries among British Columbia’s Aboriginal people — a faster decline than the province’s general population.

The faster decline, documented in a report published by Statistics Canada, means the gap is narrowing between injury rates for Aboriginal people and the overall population. The analysis also showed a faster decline for Aboriginal females compared to Aboriginal males, which narrowed the gender gap within that group.

Researchers studied hospitalizations for injuries between 1986 and 2010 — a longer period than previous studies.

Lead researcher, Dr. M. Anne George, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, a scientist with the Child & Family Research Institute, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, where she teaches in the Northern Medical Program. Dr. Mariana Brussoni, who is also an author on the paper, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Population and Public Health and Department of Pediatrics.