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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this research by Martinez-Schnell and Waxweiler was to examine the effects of homicide on premature mortality in the United States over the past three decades.
METHODOLOGY:
The authors employed a quasi-experimental design with secondary analysis of final mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics Underlying Causes of Mortality Detail tapes from 1968 to 1985. To measure the effects of homicide on younger age groups, the authors examined the years of potential life lost, defined as the sum over all deaths of the difference between the age of 65 and the age of the victim at the time of death. The age of 65 was chosen as a conservative figure of life expectancy, in order not to overestimate the effects of homicide on years of life lost. Annual years of potential life lost due to all causes and due to homicide alone were examined and compared, with analyses involving examination of frequencies.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The authors found that, from 1968 through 1985, the percentage of years of potential life lost due to homicide increased from 2.67% to 5.17%, with most of these years lost being due to incidents involving firearms and explosives. The increase in percentage held for all race and sex groups, with the highest percentage being found for black males, followed by black females, white males and lastly white females. The authors concluded that the impact of homicide on premature mortality nearly doubled over the years under study, drawing attention to the importance of interpersonal violence as a public health problem for people under the age of 65 years.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors believed that many of the homicide deaths for this group were preventable, and that strategies are needed that focus upon prevention of homicide related to firearms, as well as upon those related to non-firearm incidents. They also suggested that further research should use a measure of years of potential life lost that is age-adjusted, and that measures of premature mortality should take into consideration the differences in life expectancy for various subgroups of the population. A further suggestion was directed toward those involved in public health research and prevention, such that priorities should be established on the basis of the impact of nonfatal interpersonal violence as well, since the rate of nonfatal injuries has been estimated to be one hundred times that of fatal interpersonal violence. There was also thought to be an urgent need for well-documented data about the magnitude of nonfatal violence, examining losses to society via use of measures such as lost work days.
EVALUATION:
The authors present an interesting examination of the impact of homicide on premature mortality in the United States. However, the results of the study are only briefly presented, and are often discussed in a confusing manner. Although a more detailed and clear discussion of the findings would have been helpful, the good examination of the implications of the results, and the recommendations provided by the authors, suggest that this study be considered as a useful addition to the field of violence research. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - 1960s
KW - 1970s
KW - 1980s
KW - Adult Victim
KW - Death Rates
KW - Homicide Rates
KW - Homicide Victim
KW - Homicide Incidence and Prevalence
KW - Victimization Incidence and Prevalence
KW - Victimization Rates
KW - Juvenile Victim
KW - Gender Differences
KW - Public Health Approach
KW - Racial Differences |