Nonfatal and fatal firearm injuries in a rural county
L. S. Sadowski and S. R. Munoz
Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599-7110, USA.
OBJECTIVE--To measure the incidence of fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries
in a rural setting. DESIGN--A prospective, population-based surveillance
system using information from medical and legal records, newspapers, and
members of the community. SETTING--A rural county in North Carolina. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES--Incidence rates and case-fatality ratios
(fatal:non-fatal). RESULTS--Of the 114 firearm injuries detected by the
surveillance system from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1991, nearly
two thirds were nonfatal. The overall age-adjusted annual incidence of
firearm injuries was 66.4 per 100 000 population, and the incidence of
nonfatal firearm injuries was 41.2 per 100 000 population. Subgroup annual
incidence rates were greatest for African Americans. The overall
case-fatality ratio was 1:1.8 (fatal:nonfatal). CONCLUSIONS--Incidence
rates and case-fatality ratios for firearm injury in this rural setting
were greater than expected, based on national estimates, perhaps because of
greater proportions of rifle injuries and self-inflicted injuries.
