In a recent comparison of U.S. childhood mortality with mortality in eight other industrialized countries, it was noted that the United States ranked about midway for natural causes of death but highest or second highest for death rates from injuries and violence. In particular, the teenage homicide rate was much higher than in any of the other countries. In 1986 the total homicide rate for males 15-19 years of age in the United States was 15.1 deaths per 100,000 population. For white males it was 8.6 and for black males 51.5 per 100,000– 18 times higher than the next highest rate of 2.9 for males in Australia. In the United States the homicide rate for females was lower, 4.7, than for males. However, the rate for black females, 12.1, was nearly 4 times higher than the rate for white females, 3.3, and 8 times higher than the next highest rate of 1.4 for females in Canada. In addition to having the highest overall homicide rate, the United States has an unusually large proportion of homicides attributed to firearms. In this report we examine the contribution of firearms to childhood mortality from homicide, suicide, and unintentionrd injury.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection

United States