Written by Hannah Harp
Spoon Feed
Motor vehicle accident and firearm death trends in children reveal stark disparities according to race/ethnicity, age group, and sex, which calls for targeted interventions.
Even one is one too many
Past analyses of injury-related mortality epidemiology in US children have used all-cause and cause-specific data or have presented data specific to race/ethnicity, age group, or sex. This cross-sectional study examines all three to highlight areas of intersection where focused injury prevention interventions could have a larger impact.
This cross-sectional study examined pediatric firearm and motor vehicle crash (MVC) fatalities in the U.S. (2011–2021) by age, sex, race, and ethnicity using CDC data. Among 35,684 firearm deaths, homicides (59.8%) and suicides (33.9%) were predominant. All types of firearm deaths increased (8.7% annual percentage change), though the most significant increases were observed in firearm homicides for Black males (21.8% annual percentage change) and Black females (40.7% APC) aged 15–19. MVC deaths totaled 40,735, with increased rates between 2019 – 2021 of 9.2% APC, highest in American Indian/Alaska Native youth aged 15 – 19 (24.9% APC).
Findings highlight disparities requiring targeted interventions. This study draws on data from death certificates and is contingent upon the accuracy and thoroughness of those documents. The study does not include stratification by socioeconomic status or levels of community violence.
How will this change my practice?
When I look at the graphs from this study, the disparities are shocking. They really reinforce the importance of safety counseling and will help me stay conscientious about how these deaths are rapidly increasing.
Source
Firearm and Motor Vehicle Pediatric Deaths-Intersections of Age, Sex, Race, and Ethnicity. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Mar 1;179(3):310-320. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5089. PMID: 39714814
