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Injury Mortality Among American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Youth, 1989–1998
Native Americans from one to 19 years old are at greater risk of preventable injury-related deaths than other children and youth in the United States. This
CDC MMWR study found that injuries and violence account for 75 percent of all deaths among children and youth from one to 19 years old in this population. The risk of injury-related death is about twice that of all children and youth in the country and the risk for Native Americans varies from one region of the country to another. CDC researchers found that more than 3300 Native American children and youth living on or near reservations died as a result of injuries or violence between 1989 and 1998. While injury death rates declined for motor vehicle crashes (14 percent), drowning (34 percent), fire (49 percent), and pedestrian incidents (56 percent); rates increased for firearm-related deaths (13 percent) and homicide (20 percent). Because each Native American community is unique, CDC researchers recommend that addressing local practices and cultures can help future prevention measures to narrow the injury disparity gap with other children in America.
Additional Key Findings
- Disparities in injury and violence rates vary widely by region of the country and by cause. For example, Native Americans who live in Alaska and the Dakotas (Aberdeen region of the Indian Health Service) have an increased risk of suicide and fire-related death five to seven times greater than for all children and youth.
- The Billings and Aberdeen regions had motor vehicle-related death rates more than three times higher than national rates. Eight of the twelve regions had motor vehicle-related death rates higher than 95 percent of all state rates.
- Native American tribes and IHS are working to develop injury prevention programs in tribal health departments. While most of these programs focus upon reducing motor vehicle-related injuries, other priorities account for regional injury prevention concerns. For example, one local strategy in Alaska focuses upon promotion of float-coats and personal flotation devices.
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