title: Deaths due to Intentional Explosions in Selected Governorates of Iraq from 2010 to 2013: Prospective Surveillance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to describe the most recent trends and epidemiologic patterns of fatal injuries resulting from explosions in Iraq, one of the countries most affected by violence from explosive devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH) routine prospective injury surveillance collects information on all fatal injuries recorded by coroners from physical examinations, police reports, and family members in eight governorates of Iraq: Baghdad, Al-Anbar, Basrah, Erbil, Kerbala, Maysan, Ninevah, and Al-Sulaimaniya. This study analyzed explosive-related fatal injuries that occurred from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis included 2,803 fatal injuries. The number of fatal injuries declined from 2010 through 2012, followed by an increase in 2013. One-thousand one-hundred and one explosion-related fatalities were documented in 2013, more than twice as many as in 2012 or in 2011. Most fatalities were among men aged 20-39 years. Of all causalities, 194 (6.9%) were among females and 302 (10.8%) were among children aged less than 18 years. The majority of fatalities were caused by improvised explosive devices (IEDs): car bombs (15.3%), suicide bombs (4.0%), and other IEDs (29.6%). The highest number of fatalities occurred in streets and roads. Of all deaths, 95.6% occurred in three governorates: Baghdad, Ninevah, and Al-Anbar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Explosives continue to result in a high number of fatal injuries in Iraq. Following a period of declining violence from explosives, in 2013, fatalities increased. Most explosion-related injuries resulted from IEDs; males aged 20-39 years were at greatest risk.
authors.affiliation: 1Emergency Response and Recovery Branch,Division of Global Health Protection,Center for Global Health,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta,GeorgiaUSA.
authors.forename: Oleg O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Bilukha
authors.affiliation: 1Emergency Response and Recovery Branch,Division of Global Health Protection,Center for Global Health,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta,GeorgiaUSA.
authors.forename: Eva Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Leidman
authors.affiliation: 2Human Resources Training and Development Center,Ministry of Health,Baghdad,Iraq.
authors.forename: Abdul-Salam Saleh
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: 3World Health Organization,International Zone,UNAMI Compound,Baghdad,Iraq.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaffar Hussain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005107:Explosions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents
keywords: COSIT Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology; EVMP Explosive Violence Monitoring Project; IEDs improvised explosive devices; ISIL Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; Iraq; MoH Ministry of Health; explosions; fatal outcome; mortality; public health surveillance; wounds/injuries