The Epidemiology of Severe Injuries to Children in Northern Manhattan: Methods and Incidence Rates

This study describes the epidemiology, methods used & the incidence rates found for severe injury in a population of 89000 inner-city children under age 17 in northern Manhattan. The average annual incidence rate (measured from 1983 to 1987) for severe injuries to children under 17 was 846/100000 a year with the vast majority classified as unintentional & 3 % self-inflicted. The suicide rate was 0.4/100000. The leading causes of injury death included guns & burns. (22 Refs.)