Vital Signs: Changes in Firearm Homicide and Suicide Rates - United States, 2019-2020.
| Autor: | Kegler SR, Simon TR, Zwald ML, Chen MS, Mercy JA, Jones CM, Mercado-Crespo MC, Blair JM, Stone DM, Ottley PG, Dills J |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report [MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep] 2022 May 13; Vol. 71 (19), pp. 656-663. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 May 13. |
| DOI: | 10.15585/mmwr.mm7119e1 |
| Abstrakt: | Introduction: The majority of homicides (79%) and suicides (53%) in the United States involved a firearm in 2020. High firearm homicide and suicide rates and corresponding inequities by race and ethnicity and poverty level represent important public health concerns. This study examined changes in firearm homicide and firearm suicide rates coinciding with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Methods: National vital statistics and population data were integrated with urbanization and poverty measures at the county level. Population-based firearm homicide and suicide rates were examined by age, sex, race and ethnicity, geographic area, level of urbanization, and level of poverty. Results: From 2019 to 2020, the overall firearm homicide rate increased 34.6%, from 4.6 to 6.1 per 100,000 persons. The largest increases occurred among non-Hispanic Black or African American males aged 10-44 years and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) males aged 25-44 years. Rates of firearm homicide were lowest and increased least at the lowest poverty level and were higher and showed larger increases at higher poverty levels. The overall firearm suicide rate remained relatively unchanged from 2019 to 2020 (7.9 to 8.1); however, in some populations, including AI/AN males aged 10-44 years, rates did increase. Conclusions and Implications for Public Health Practice: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the firearm homicide rate in the United States reached its highest level since 1994, with substantial increases among several population subgroups. These increases have widened disparities in rates by race and ethnicity and poverty level. Several increases in firearm suicide rates were also observed. Implementation of comprehensive strategies employing proven approaches that address underlying economic, physical, and social conditions contributing to the risks for violence and suicide is urgently needed to reduce these rates and disparities. Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Scott R. Kegler reports uncompensated membership on the editorial board of the Journal of Safety Research (term beginning 2013–present). Thomas R. Simon reports uncompensated service on the executive planning committee for the 2022 National Research Conference on Firearm Injury Prevention organized by the RAND Corporation, University of Michigan, and Columbia University. May S. Chen reports voluntary membership on the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health Alumni Association Advisory Board. Melissa C. Mercado-Crespo reports uncompensated membership on the StopBullying.gov editorial board. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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