Citation

Hammig BJ, Dahlberg LL, Swahn MH. Inj. Prev. 2001; 7(4): 312-315.

Affiliation

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, USA. bhammig@siu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11770658

PMCID

PMC1730785

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify violence related behaviors associated with injuries among adolescent males involved in fights. METHODS: Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to develop weighted estimates of injury prevalence and associations between injury and violence related behaviors. RESULTS: Forty seven per cent injured others and 18% were themselves injured in a fight among adolescent males in the preceding 12 months. Group fighting, fighting with strangers, and weapon use were predictive of injury in this sample. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that injuries associated with fighting are a health risk among adolescent males. Certain behaviors, such as fighting in groups and fighting with strangers, increase the likelihood of injuries requiring medical attention.