title: Prevalence and ethnic/racial disparities in the distribution of pediatric injuries in South Florida: implications for the development of community prevention programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The state of Florida continues to report significant gender, ethnic and racial disparities in trauma incidence, access to care and outcomes in the adult population. Our objective was to assess pediatric injury profiles and ethnic/racial disparities of specific injuries in a Regional Trauma Center (TC) in South Florida.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data from November 2011 to December 2015 were obtained from the Level 2 TC registry for children ≤21 years old. Demographic, injury pattern, geographic area, injury scores and treatment data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand six hundred ten patients, ages 0-21 years were cared for at the TC from 2011 to 2015.73% were males. Mean age = 15.7 years. Mortality was 2.3%. Using zip code data and using geographic mapping, we identified two main clusters where injuries were occurring. A multinomial regression analysis demonstrated that Hispanics had higher risks of falls (RR 10.4, 95% CI 2.7-29), motorcycle accidents (RR 3.7, 95% CI 1.7-8.2) and motor vehicle accidents (RR 6.4, 95% CI 3.6-11.4). Black/African American children had higher risks of gunshot wounds and resultant mortality (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were racial, ethnic and gender disparities in the patterns of injury and outcomes among the youth attended at our TC. Geographic mapping allowed us the identification of the zones in South Florida where injuries were occurring. Understanding the differences and using geographic mapping to identify regions of higher prevalence will complement planning for prevention programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kendall Regional Medical Center, 11750 SW 40th St, Suite 701, Miami, FL, 33175, USA. ctramos@me.com.
authors.forename: Carmen Ramos
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Irizarry
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Research Division, Health Professions, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hardigan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kendall Regional Medical Center, 11750 SW 40th St, Suite 701, Miami, FL, 33175, USA.
authors.forename: Mark G Mc
authors.initials: MGM
authors.lastname: Kenney
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Kendall Regional Medical Center, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kendall Regional Medical Center, 11750 SW 40th St, Suite 701, Miami, FL, 33175, USA.
authors.forename: Rudy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kendall Regional Medical Center, 11750 SW 40th St, Suite 701, Miami, FL, 33175, USA.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kendall Regional Medical Center, 11750 SW 40th St, Suite 701, Miami, FL, 33175, USA.
authors.forename: Ascension M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Torres
keywords: Disparities; Ethnicity; Geographic mapping; Pediatric; Precede framework; Prevalence; Prevention programs; Race; Trauma