3031.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - Board 6

Abstract #13667

Firearm homicides and suicides in small to medium-sized cities

Charles C. Branas, PhD, Therese S. Richmond, PhD, Caroline Bar, Jeaneen Reily, RN, and C. William Schwab, MD. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-573-5381, cbranas@cceb.med.upenn.edu

Each year, large U.S. cities experience substantial numbers of firearm homicides and suicides. These numbers have contributed to the perception of large cities as isolated in their struggle with firearm mortality. This perception may obscure the burden of firearm mortality in neighboring small to medium-sized U.S. cities. METHODS: Firearm fatality data from 1994 to 1998 were collected from coroner, hospital, and police records in three small to medium-sized city areas using a standardized data collection device. The three small to medium-sized city areas were located in Southeastern Iowa (SEIA), East-central Pennsylvania (ECPA), and Northeastern Ohio (NEOH). For comparison, data from nearby large cities in each of the three States were also obtained. FINDINGS: The firearm suicide rate per 100,000 people was not dramatically different between SEIA=34.0, ECPA=34.4, and NEOH=36.0. However, the firearm homicide rate was dramatically different: SEIA=5.7; ECPA=9.8; and NEOH=61.0. In contrast with the other two areas, NEOH also had higher annual firearm homicide rates than its nearest large city (see figure). CONCLUSION: Preliminary "community snapshots" of firearm fatalities in small to medium sized cities highlight the need for expanded consideration of firearm violence in these cities.

Learning Objectives: Articulate the need to devote research and prevention resources to the issue of firearm injury in small to medium sized cities

Keywords: Firearms, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA