An epidemiological evaluation of fatal and nonfatal assault related firearm injuries among youth aged 0-17 years.

Abstract

Firearm-related injuries are a leading cause of death and disability among youth in the United States (US). Children are at risk for assault-related firearm injuries based on their race, ethnicity, age, and gender. The present study quantifies assault-related firearm morbidity and mortality among US children aged 0-17 years. We utilized data from 41 states reporting to both the Nationwide Emergency Sample (NEDS) and the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) from 2019 to 2020 to calculate rates of nonfatal and fatal firearm-related assaults, respectively. We also calculated disproportionality and disparity, using the Disproportionality Representation Index (DRI) and Disparity Index (DI). An estimated 6820 (weighted) children experienced a nonfatal firearm assault and over 2300 children died within the two-year study timeframe. Disproportionality and disparity calculations suggest that non-Hispanic Black, male, and older youth bore the greatest burden of morbidity and mortality. Identifying root causes of fatal and nonfatal pediatric firearm assaults in future studies can support preventive healthcare and firearm policy reform in the US. Decreasing the burden of firearm-related death and disability will require additional funding and implementation of community violence reduction programs and councils.