title: Non-fatal violence-related injuries in Kingston, Jamaica: a preventable drain on resources.
abstract: Using data for a one-year period from the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) in Jamaica, we describe patterns of non-fatal violence-related injuries, and carry out simulation analysis to estimate rates of hospital admission under various injury reduction scenarios, and the potential savings that can be realized by reducing violent crimes. In this period there were 6107 registered violence-related visits to the KPH representing 11.5% of all recorded visits. Of these 16.6% (1001) were admitted. The most common methods of inflicting injury was by stabbing (52.1%), blunt injuries (37.9%) and gunshot wounds (7.3%). Multivariate analyses indicated that gunshot injuries, stab injuries, being male between the ages of 15 and 44 years, receiving the injury in November or December, and being injured by a stranger or unknown assailant, were significant correlates of a higher probability of admission. Simulation analysis with various injury reduction scenarios indicated decreases in the probability of admission ranging from 12% to 44%, with estimated savings of up to 31% of the annual supplies budget of KPH.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Research Unit, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, W.I. NZohoori@UWIMona.edu.jm
authors.forename: Namvar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zohoori
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Georgiana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Rainford
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilks
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Terrence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forrester
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*