State estimates of household exposure to firearms, loaded firearms, and handguns, 1991 through 1995.
OBJECTIVE
Variations among states in household exposure to firearms, loaded firearms, and handguns were examined.


METHODS
Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 22 states were used to estimate the prevalence of adults and children exposed to household firearms.


RESULTS
The prevalence of adults living in households with firearms ranged from 12% to 57%; the corresponding ranges were 1% to 23% for loaded firearms and 5% to 36% for handguns. The prevalence of children less than 18 years of age living in households with loaded firearms ranged from 2% to 12%.


CONCLUSIONS
Important variations among states exist in the prevalence of adults and children living in households with firearms, loaded firearms, and handguns.
Powell
K E
KE
Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga 30341-3724, USA.
Jacklin
B C
BC
Nelson
D E
DE
Bland
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*