The epidemiology of severe injuries to children in northern Manhattan: methods and incidence rates.
The epidemiology of injury incidence in inner-city children has not previously been described. This study presents the methods used and the incidence rates found for severe injury (causing hospitalisation or death) in a population of 89,000 children under age 17 years in northern Manhattan, a largely poor area of New York City. The average annual incidence rate (measured from 1983 to 1987) for severe injuries to children under 17 was 846/100,000 a year. The vast majority (79%) were classified as unintentional. Nine per cent were due to assault, 3% were self-inflicted and in an additional 9% the intention was unclear. Classified by cause, the highest incidence (per 100,000/year) was found for falls (218), vehicle-related (141, primarily pedestrian), ingestion (119) and burns (110). Guns caused 3% of the injuries (27). The death rate from injury was 18.7/100,000, 36% of which was due to homicide. In an additional 28%, intentional injury was suspected. The suicide rate was 0.4/100,000. The leading causes of injury death included guns and burns (both 2.7/100,000). Compared with childhood injury rates in predominantly rural and suburban populations, the rates reported here for northern Manhattan are higher for overall injury incidence (fatal and non-fatal) and for homicide, but lower for injury mortality not due to homicide.
Davidson
L L
LL
Department of Pediatrics, Harlem Hospital, New York.
Durkin
M S
MS
O'Connor
P
P
Barlow
B
B
Heagarty
M C
MC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality