Such disparities are the result of structural barriers that experts say require better understanding and a more proactive approach to solve. The need to prioritize injury prevention as a public health issue has been brought to the forefront by recent developments in Massachusetts, where a new program aims to tackle the problem.
Pediatrician Dr. Sadiqa Kendi, who is leading the initiative, has said there is a lack of recognition around the significant impact of preventable serious injuries.
While there has been an overall decrease in child deaths caused by injury, data reveals that the disparities remain. Structural disadvantages, such as poverty, lack of access to mental healthcare, safety equipment, and environmental risks contribute to the increased risk of injury and death for children.
Pediatric injury prevention and disparities specialist Keshia Pollack Porter said that addressing all of these categories was necessary to keep a check on inequities.
Structural racism has taken a significant toll on Indigenous children and families, who are at increased risk of injury, including from car crashes, due to underfunded infrastructure, lack of access to safety equipment, and mental healthcare.
The most common causes of injury-related deaths among children are motor vehicle accidents, suffocation, drowning, poisoning and falls. In 2022, motor vehicle accidents accounted for 26% of injury-related deaths among children aged 1-14, while suffocation was responsible for 23% of deaths in infants under the age of one. Drowning was the leading cause of death among children aged 1-4, accounting for 17% of injury-related deaths in that age group.
The report also highlights the racial and ethnic disparities in injury-related deaths among children. In 2022, the death rate for non-Hispanic Black children was nearly twice as high as the rate for non-Hispanic White children. The death rate for American Indian and Alaska Native children was also higher than the national average.
Tribal roadway safety has long been a danger in Indian Country. Lack of car seats in older vehicles can also increase the danger. The increased risk of injury, homicide, and suicide among American Indian and Alaska Native children has made injury prevention a pressing concern. Injury prevention networks, bringing together experts and community leaders from multiple disciplines, are developing policy recommendations to reduce injury disparities.
It takes a multifaceted approach to prevent injury, including improving access to safety equipment, mental healthcare, and prioritizing injury prevention as a public health issue.
FAQs:
- What is the full form of CDC?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. - What is the United States’ infant mortality rate?
According to Macrotrends, the United States had an infant mortality rate of 5.547 deaths per 1000 live births in 2022.
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