Trends in youth mortality in Israel, 1984-1995

Background: Investigation of causes of death can help inform intervention p olicy aimed at reducing preventable mortality. Objectives: To assess mortality causes and trends over time and identify ta rget groups with excessive mortality rates among Israeli youth aged 10-24, in order to formulate an Intervention policy for prevention of adolescent m ortality. Methods: Mortality data for Israeli residents aged 10-24 were extracted fro m the Central Bureau of Statistics computerized death certificate file for the period 1984-95. Trends were evaluated by cause of death and demographic characteristics. Results: The crude mortality rate among Israeli youth aged 10-24, during 19 93-1995, was 39.6 per 100,000. Rates were 2.7 times higher among males, inc reased with age, and reached a peak among 18-21 year olds. Rates were 1.4 t imes higher among Arabs than among Jews. The sharp increase in mortality am ong Jewish males of military service age (18-21 years) was due mainly to mo tor vehicle crashes and suicide. Although overall mortality decreased by 9. 4% from 1984-86 to 1993-95, the gap between the subgroups increased. MVC-re lated mortality increased over time by 100% among Arab males. The rate of c ompleted suicide among Jewish males increased by 110%. Although injury-rela ted mortality is lower in Israel compared with the U.S., similar demographi c differentials and trends were found in both countries. Conclusions: Suicide among Jewish males of military service age, as well as MVC fatalities among Arab males, present a growing public health issue. In tervention strategies should therefore be targeted towards these subgroups in order to minimize the rates of preventable death.