Citation

Sanford C, Marshall SW, Martin SL, Coyne-Beasley T, Waller AE, Cook PJ, Norwood T, Demissie Z. Inj. Prev. 2006; 12(Suppl 2): ii10-ii16.

Affiliation

Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, Division of Public Health, NC Department Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/ip.2006.012617

PMID

17170164

PMCID

PMC2563482

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify gender differences in violent deaths in terms of incidence, circumstances, and methods of death. DESIGN: Analysis of surveillance data. SETTING: North Carolina, a state of 8.6 million residents on the eastern seaboard of the US. SUBJECTS: 1674 North Carolina residents who died from violence in the state during 2004. METHODS: Information on violent deaths was collected by the North Carolina Violent Death Reporting System using data from death certificates, medical examiner reports, and law enforcement agency incidence reports. RESULTS: Suicide and homicide rates were lower for females than males. For suicides, females were more likely than males to have a diagnosis of depression (55% v 36%), a current mental health problem (66% v 42%), or a history of suicide attempts (25% v 13%). Firearms were the sole method of suicide in 65% of males and 42% of females. Poisonings were more common in female than male suicides (37% v 12%). Male and female homicide victims were most likely to die from a handgun or a sharp instrument. Fifty seven percent of female homicides involved intimate partner violence, compared with 13% of male homicides. Among female homicides involving intimate partner violence, 78% occurred in the woman's home. White females had a higher rate of suicide than African-American females, but African-American females had a higher rate of homicide than white females. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence, circumstances, and methods of fatal violence differ greatly between females and males. These differences should be taken into account in the development of violence prevention efforts.

Language: en