REGIONAL VARIATIONS OF NORTHERN HEALTH - THE EPIDEMIC OF FATAL TRAUMAIN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO

Objective: To examine the causes of traumatic death in a northern regi on of Ontario. Methods: Prevalence study of trauma deaths occurring wi thin the region of Northeastern Ontario over the years 1989-1991; regi onal data were compared with provincial data. Results: 1,027 patient r ecords were identified over the study period (51.4 deaths per 100,000 population/year). Nonintentional trauma accounted for 70% of all traum a deaths in the region; suicide (25%; 12.8/100,000) and homicide (5%; 2.4/100,000) were less common. Motorized vehicle trauma accounted for most of the non-intentional traumatic death (39%; 20.4/100,000). Age-s tandardized mortality ratios were 67% above the provincial average for non-intentional trauma, 71% above the provincial average for suicides , 55% above the provincial average for homicides, and 68% higher for a ll forms of traumatic death. Conclusions: Traumatic death is a major h ealth problem in northern areas; reduction of these rates depends on t he development of an effective injury prevention strategy.