Injury prevention

A leading cause of death and disability in China 

WHO estimates injuries and violence to be the fourth leading cause of death in China (after cardiovascular disease, malignant neoplasm and respiratory disease). Official government figures show that every year road traffic collisions, suicides and other causes of injury kill approximately 750 000 people on the mainland and hospitalize more than 3.5 million others. These figures may even underestimate the magnitude of the problem.

Three causes of injury account for more than 64% of all injury and violence deaths in China: self-inflicted injuries (suicide) (28%), road traffic injuries (25%) and drowning (11%).


Suicide

Self inflicted injuries (suicide) are the leading cause of injury death in China with approximately 286,000 fatalities each year, making it the leading cause of death in the 15-34 year age group. Intentional ingestion of agricultural pesticide is the greatest mechanism of suicide with an estimated 166,000 deaths each year. Due to a high burden of pesticide poisoning in rural areas, China is reported as one of only few countries where the suicide mortality rate in females exceeds that in men, estimated to be by as much as 25%.

Road traffic injury

Official statistics report more than 100,000 deaths from road traffic injuries (RTI) each year, making it the 7th leading cause of death overall. To put this into perspective, someone dies on China’s roads every 5 minutes. These figures are widely reported to be an underestimation of the true burden. Some estimates suggest more than 250,000 deaths every year, making it the leading cause of death in persons aged 15-44 years. In addition to the high death toll, an estimated 500,000 people sustain injuries on Chinese roads every year.

There are many contributors for RTIs in China. They are strongly associated with the explosion in use of motor vehicles in China, with more than 12,000 new vehicles on the roads each day in 2004. Other contributors include low awareness, adherence and enforcement of proven risk factor reduction strategies (e.g. seat-belts, helmets, speeding and drinking and driving).

Drowning

WHO estimates more than 112,000 deaths each year from drowning, of which >50% are in children <15 years of age. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children aged 5-14. Data on non-fatal drowning is not available. Risk factors for drowning are widespread. In a 2004 survey on injury deaths, UNICEF and the Alliance for Safe Children (TASC) estimated that 80% of urban Chinese children cannot swim.

Other leading causes of injury and violence

Other leading forms of death by injury and violence in China include falls (96 000 deaths) – which will likely become a more prevalent cause of injury as China’s population ages – and homicide (death by violence) (estimated to number 38 000 deaths annually).

Premature mortality

China has one of the highest mortality rates due to injuries in the Western Pacific Region particularly among young people. More than 50% of all deaths in China under the age of 45 are from injuries and violence – resulting in a high toll of "years of potential life lost" (YPLL). An estimated 30 million years of life were lost to injuries and violence in 2002, more than for cardiovascular disease and communicable disease combined.



Injuries and violence are the leading cause of death in China for people aged 15 to 44, generally the most economically productive age group.

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