NONFATAL AND FATAL FIREARM INJURIES IN A RURAL COUNTY

Objective.-To measure the incidence of fatal and nonfatal firearm inju ries in a rural setting. Design.-A prospective, population-based surve illance system using information from medical and legal records, newsp apers, and members of the community. Setting.-A rural county in North Carolina. Main Outcome Measures.-Incidence rates and case-fatality rat ios (fatal:nonfatal). Results.-Of the 114 firearm injuries detected by the surveillance system from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 19 91, nearly two thirds were nonfatal, The overall age-adjusted annual i ncidence 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). Conclusio ns.-Incidence rates and case-fatality ratios for firearm injury in thi s rural setting were greater than expected, based on national estimate s, perhaps because of greater proportions of rifle injuries and self-i nflicted injuries.