Signifigant Disparities in Fatal-Injury Rates Persist Between White and Minority Children

The most recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary reports on a study on the disparities in fatal-injury rates among white and minority children. The study, which drew its data from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System for death certificates reported between 1999 to 2002, found that unintentional injury, homicide, and suicide were the 1st, 2nd, and 4th leading causes of death among persons aged 1-19 years, with minorities holding the highest rates.

Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders consistently had a lower risk for fatal injury than did whites but American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AIs/ANs) and blacks consistently had higher risks. Blacks and AIs/ANs infants younger than 1 year of age had consistently higher total injury death rates with more than twice the rate of injury deaths than whites. AI/AN infants had the highest MV traffic deaths while black infants had the highest unintentional suffocation and homicide rates. Among children aged 1 to 9 years of age, AIs/ANs had the highest rate of MV traffic deaths and drownings while blacks had the highest rates of homicide and fire/burn death. In the 10 to 19 year age group, AIs/ANs had the highest rates of suicide and MV traffic deaths while blacks had the highest rate of homicide.

The study found that the disparity in injury mortality rates by race/ethnicity from 1982-1985 has not lessened by 1999-2002. The authors urge future injury-prevention efforts that target the injury mechanisms most harmful to each minority in each age group by using culturally appropriate prevention messages and strategies to close the gap between whites and minorities.

To read the full report, click here.