Prevention of Firearm Injuries Among Children and Adolescents

Cunningham, Rebecca M.; Carter, Patrick M.; Ranney, Megan L.; Walton, Maureen A.; Zeoli, April M.; Alpern, Elizabeth R.; Branas, Charles C.; Beidas, Rinad S.; Ehrlich, Peter F.; Goyal, Monika K.; Goldstick, Jason E.; Hemenway, David; Hargarten, Stephen W.; King, Cheryl A.; Massey, Lynn; Ngo, Quyen; Pizarro, Jesenia M.; Prosser, Lisa A.; Rowhani-Rahbar, Ali; Rivara, Frederick; Rupp, Laney; Sigel, Eric; Savolainen, Jukka; Zimmerman, Marc A.

doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.1494

Cited by 70 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“… 15 – 17 In 2019, the Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens (FACTS) Consortium identified as a research priority understanding how the availability, storage, and presence of a firearm in the home affects youth outcomes. 18 The objective of our study was to determine firearm exposure and storage practices in the homes of rural adolescents, and to identify demographic factors associated with having firearms present and unsafely stored in the home.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Firearm Exposure and Storage Practices in the Homes of Rural Adolescents

Jennissen¹,

Wetjen²,

Wymore³

et al. 2021

WJEM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Rural areas have higher rates of firearm-related unintentional and suicide deaths. Having access to a firearm greatly increases suicide risk. Safe firearm storage can be a major factor in preventing these tragedies. In this study we evaluated firearm exposure and storage practices in rural adolescents’ homes. Methods An anonymous survey was administered to a convenience sample of attendees at the 2019 Iowa FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) Leadership Conference. We performed descriptive, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results A total of 1,382 adolescents participated; 51% were males and 49% were females. Respondents were 13–18 years old, and 53% lived on a farm, 18% in the country/not on a farm, and 29% in town. Almost all (96%) self-identified as White/Caucasian. In their homes, 84% reported having rifles/shotguns, 58% reported having handguns, and 56% reported having both rifles/shotguns and handguns. Males were significantly more likely than females to report having firearms in their home (P<0.001). The likelihood of having rifles/shotguns was greater if living on a farm (odds ratio (OR) 4.19, 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.99–5.88) or in the country/not a farm (OR 2.74, 95% CI, 1.78–4.24) compared to those in town. Similarly, the presence of handguns in the home was increased if living on a farm compared to in town (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.32–2.18). Rifles/shotguns and handguns were stored unlocked and/or loaded at least some of the time in 62% and 58% of homes, respectively. Those who lived on farms compared to in towns were more likely to have rifles/shotguns (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.35–2.46) and handguns (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.10–2.27) stored unlocked. For homes with unlocked rifles/shotguns, 46% stored ammunition unlocked. For homes with unlocked handguns, 38% stored ammunition unlocked. Among those aware of firearm storage in their home, 82% (802/974) reported at least one firearm stored either unlocked and/or loaded at least some of the time. Conclusion The vast majority of rural adolescents we surveyed live in homes with firearms, and a large proportion of those firearms are not stored safely. Widespread efforts are needed to educate rural families about the importance of proper firearm and ammunition storage.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Firearm Exposure and Storage Practices in the Homes of Rural Adolescents

Jennissen¹,

Wetjen²,

Wymore³

et al. 2021

WJEM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Other examples of violence prevention research agendas in the literature vary in scope. For example, there is a published research agenda set for an entire nation, for violence against women, and for pediatric firearm injuries (Ward et al 2012 ; Koss 1990 ; Cunningham et al 2019 ). The South African and the pediatric firearm research agendas include parallels to the CACPVC agenda in describing the importance of understanding how schools and community organizations can prevent violence (Ward et al 2012 ; Cunningham et al 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-engaged research to develop a Chicago violence research agenda and recommendations to support future community engagement

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Chicago has a history of gun violence with some neighborhoods, particularly Black and Brown communities, being disproportionately affected and Black male youth experiencing an even more disparate impact. Too often, violence prevention research is developed and carried out with little or no input from the people living in the most affected communities. The objective of the Community-Academic Collaboration to Prevent Violence in Chicago (CACPVC) was to bring together individuals from impacted communities with academic researchers and other community stakeholders to discuss violence and co-create a research agenda that addresses topics of mutual concern, and recommendations for engaging stakeholders including community members and organizations and funders in violence and violence prevention research. Methods From 2014 to 2015, community members and organizations from seven defined regions across Chicago were recruited to participate. An organization network gathering was held in each region for researchers, funders, and community organization representatives to discuss violence prevention. Open community forums then took place in each community. Violence data by region was shared followed by facilitated group discussions that were recorded by youth scribes. Notes were thematically coded, grouped, and compiled after which a list of topics was refined by the CACPVC Work Group, allowing for investigator triangulation. A survey was disseminated to community stakeholders to prioritize the topics. Results Seven network gatherings (127 attendees) and community forums (133 attendees) were held. Topic areas identified during the gatherings and forums included root causes/cycle of violence, racism and bias/structural violence, trajectory of violence, protective factors and nonviolence, geographic pattern change, violence prevention strategies, youth, family factors, community factors, school, police, gangs/street organizations, and media and public perceptions. Recommendations to support community engagement were grouped as role of research in reducing violence, role of community in violence research, relationships and respect, academic-community communication, financial considerations, training, practical considerations, research design, sharing results, communication about and use of data, and recommendations for funders. Conclusions The violence research agenda will be used to inform community-engaged violence prevention research. The recommendations for community engagement provide a resource for researchers about topics to consider to meaningfully engage community members in future research.

show abstract

“…30 In 2017, the Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens (FACTS) Consortium, a National Institute for Child Health and Human Development-funded group of scientists and stakeholders, was formed to develop research resources for a pediatric-specific research agenda for firearm injury prevention. 31 Ultimately, the non-fatal injury rate, which is multiple times higher than the death rate, must also be considered. In one study, for every person <18 years of age who died of bullets, 4 to 5 more were treated for gunshot wounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In one study, for every person <18 years of age who died of bullets, 4 to 5 more were treated for gunshot wounds. 32 The overall human and financial cost of firearm injuries and deaths in the U.S. is extraordinary.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing Firearm Deaths in The Youngest Americans: Ecologic Correlation with Firearm Prevalence

Bleyer

Siegel

Thomas

2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: In the United States (U.S.), the overall death rate in 1-4 year-olds had been steadily declining until 2011, after which it ceased to improve. To understand this trend reversal, we investigated trends in the causes of their deaths. Methods: Mortality data were obtained from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, firearm background check data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and civilian firearm prevalence from the Small Arms Survey. Findings: In 1-4 year-olds, the rate of fatal firearm accidents during 2002-2017 increased exponentially at an average rate of 6.0%/year (p=0.0003). The rate of increase was the greatest of all evaluable causes of death in the age group. Both the rate increase and most recent absolute rate in firearm accidental deaths in young children were correlated with the concurrent corresponding rate of firearm background checks (p = 0.0002 and 0.003, respectively). Also, the firearm accidental death rate in countries with high civilian firearm prevalence was correlated with the number of guns per civilian population (p=0.002). Interpretation: Prior to 2004, the childhood firearm death rate did not increase during the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Since 2004 when the Ban ended, the steadily increasing rate of sales and concomitant availability of, and access to, firearms in the U.S. has been associated with an increase in fatal firearm accidents in its youngest children. The acceleration of firearm deaths and injuries among young Americans requires urgent, definitive solutions that address firearm prevalence. Funding: No external funding.

show abstract

Prevention of Firearm Injuries Among Children and Adolescents

Cited by 70 publications

References 47 publications

Firearm Exposure and Storage Practices in the Homes of Rural Adolescents

Firearm Exposure and Storage Practices in the Homes of Rural Adolescents

Community-engaged research to develop a Chicago violence research agenda and recommendations to support future community engagement

Increasing Firearm Deaths in The Youngest Americans: Ecologic Correlation with Firearm Prevalence

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About