Injuries are classified as either intentional or unintentional. Examples of
intentional injuries/deaths are: 1) suicide; 2) homicide; and, 3) assault. In your communities you may
relate to these injuries or deaths as 'violence.' Unintentional injuries/deaths are caused by: 1) motor
vehicle crashes; 2) drownings; 3) falls; 4) fires/burns; 5) suffocation due to food or other objects; 6)
suffocations in bed, etc.
Injuries are the leading causes of death for American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) from the ages
of 1 to 44. Injuries and poisonings are the fourth leading cause of hospitalizations for all AI/AN's,
and the third leading cause of hospitalizations for AI/AN male patients. Of all the identified unintentional
injuries, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for AI/AN's up to the age of 44.
According to the 2000-2001 Indian Health Focus, Injuries injuries and poisonings are:
- The fifth leading cause of hospitalizations for children 1 to 4 years of age.
- The third leading cause of hospitalizations for children 5 to 14 years of age.
- The second leading cause of hospitalizations for AI/AN patients 15 to 24 years of age.
- The fourth leading cause of hospitalizations for all AI/AN patients.
According to the 2000-2001 Indian Health Focus, Injuries unintentional injuries is:
- The fourth leading cause of infant death.
- The leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years of age.
- The leading cause of death for AI/AN's 5 to 44 years of age.
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