The aim of the South Australian Burden of Disease study is to describe the average amount of ill health and premature death occurring in the South Australian community. The initial work included the years 1999-2001 and updated state level estimates for 2000-2002 and 2001-2003 are now available.

Estimates are currently (May 2009) being updated to produce a series covering the period 1999-2001 to 2005-2007.

This involves gathering the best available evidence (which may be uncertain or incomplete) on the distribution and severity of a comprehensive list of illnesses and injuries in South Australia.  Estimates of illness and death due to each condition (eg. stroke, motor vehicle accident) are available, as well as estimates of the contribution of major risk factors (eg smoking) to the overall burden.

Describing the burden due to each condition or risk factor using the same measures allows decision makers, planners and the public to compare illnesses, risk factors and population groups to see where the greatest burden lies and where there is the greatest need for action. 

The World Health Organisation, the Harvard School of Public Health and the World Bank developed the Burden of Disease methodology in the early 1990s. Since then Burden of Disease studies have been conducted in many countries and in Australia at both the national level and in some States.

Click on the links below for more detailed information on the Burden of Disease methodology and for the results of Burden of Disease studies in different regions.