Ls. Sadowski et Sr. Munoz, NONFATAL AND FATAL FIREARM INJURIES IN A RURAL COUNTY, JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, 275(22), 1996, pp. 1762-1764
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.