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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Sandra L. Martin, PhD¹, Catherine (Kay) Sanford, MSPH², Stephen W. Marshall, PhD³, Tamera Coyne-Beasley, MD⁴, Anna E. Waller, ScD⁵, Philip J. Cook, PhD⁶, Tammy Norwood, BS², and Zewditu Demissie, MPH³. (1) Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 403 Rosenau Hall, CB# 7445, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, (919) 966-5973, sandra_martin@unc.edu, (2) NC-DHHS Division of Public Health, NC Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, 1915 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1915, (3) Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, CB # 7435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, (4) Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, 5123 Bioinfomatics Bldg, CB # 7220, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7220, (5) Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, CB # 7594, Chapel Hil, NC 27599-7594, (6) ITT/Public Policy, Duke University, Box 90245, Durhan, NC 27708

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare female and male fatalities from violence in terms of their incidence, methods and circumstances of death. Methods: The North Carolina Violent Death Reporting System (NC-VDRS) data were analyzed to examine the deaths of 1,663 North Carolina residents who died from violence in the state during 2004. This data set contains information from death certificates, medical examiner reports, and law enforcement agency incidence reports. Results: The study found that violent deaths from suicide were more common than violent deaths from homicide for both females and males, and that the suicide and homicide rates were lower for females than males. Examination of suicides found that firearms were the most common method of death for females (42%) and for males (65%), even though poisonings were much more common among females than males (38% vs. 12%). Female suicide victims were more likely than males to have had a diagnosis of depression (52% vs. 31%) and a history of previous suicide attempts (22% vs. 9%). Examination of homicides found that firearms were the most common method of death for both males (71%) and females (47%). Although only 7% of male homicides involved intimate partner violence, 40% of female homicides involved such violence, with most (82%) of these female intimate partner homicides occurring in the women's homes. Conclusion: These findings may be helpful to those who develop and implement programs and policies aimed at violence prevention.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants will

• Recognize that violent deaths of both females and males are more often due to suicide than homicide, although females have lower suicide and homicide rates than males.
• Recognize that firearms are the most common method of death in both female and male suicides and homicides.
• Recognize that intimate partner violence is more likely to be involved in the homicides of females than males.

Keywords: Violence,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation