Firearm Violence in the African American Community: A Review of Prevalence Rates, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies

background:  Firearm violence continues to be a public health problem in the United States. Previous studies have examined the overall prevalence and risk factors associated with firearm violence in the U.S. However, few studies have explored the prevalence and risk factors of firearm injuries among those most impacted, African Americans.

objectives: 1. Provide an overview of trends in firearm violence among African Americans by gender, age, and race/ethnicity. 2. Provide a review of the literature including risk factors and current approaches to firearm violence in the African American community.

methods: Key search terms were used to conduct the literature review and several online databases were used to search for published articles (1990-2014). Additionally, secondary data from the Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) were used to evaluate trends in firearm mortality by gender/race/ethnicity from 2007 to 2013.

results: Forty-five articles were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The majority of the literature examined risk factors at proximal and distal levels (n=34). A review of the literature, failed to find any studies that examined the effectiveness of firearm violence policies in reducing racial/ethnic disparities in firearm violence.

conclusion: The limited amount of firearm violence research among African Americans provides an opportunity for health disparities researchers to focus more of their research efforts on this topic. A critical area of research to be explored includes studies that evaluate the effectiveness of firearm policies and prevention programs in reducing racial/ethnic disparities in firearm violence.