title: Childhood fatalities in new Mexico: medical examiner-investigated cases, 2000-2010.
abstract: To better understand risk factors and populations at risk of childhood fatalities, a review of all records of childhood deaths (≤19 years) between 2000 and 2010 from New Mexico's statewide medical examiner was conducted. Annually, 313-383 childhood deaths were investigated (3820 total). Males and American Indians were overrepresented (62% and 20.4% of deaths, respectively). The most common manner of death was natural (44.8%), followed by accidental (31.4%), homicide (8.8%), suicide (8.8%), and undetermined (4.1%). Infants under 1 year of age accounted for 41.4% of deaths. Motor vehicle crashes were responsible for the majority of accidental deaths (69%), followed by unintentional overdoses (6.9%), and drowning (5.3%). Gunshot wounds, either intentional or unintentional, caused 10.7% of childhood deaths. Complete medico-legal investigation of childhood fatalities is needed to provide public health agencies with adequate data to evaluate and prevent childhood deaths.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, MSC07 4040, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. slathrop@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lathrop
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000401:mortality; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000401:mortality; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012640:Seizures / Q000401:mortality; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult