Trends in paediatric firearm-related encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic by age group, race/ethnicity and schooling mode in Tennessee.
Inj Prev
; 29(4): 327-333, 2023 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37137687
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Increases in paediatric firearm-related injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic may be due to changes in where children and adolescents spent their time. This study examines changes in the frequency of paediatric firearm-related encounters as a function of schooling mode overall and by race/ethnicity and age group at a large trauma centre through 2021.METHODS:
We use data from a large paediatric and adult trauma centre in Tennessee from January 2018 to December 2021 (N=211 encounters) and geographically linked schooling mode data. We use Poisson regressions to estimate smoothed monthly paediatric firearm-related encounters as a function of schooling mode overall and stratified by race and age.RESULTS:
Compared with pre pandemic, we find a 42% increase in paediatric encounters per month during March 2020 to August 2020, when schools were closed, no significant increase during virtual/hybrid instruction, and a 23% increase in encounters after schools returned to in-person instruction. The effects of schooling mode are heterogeneous by patient race/ethnicity and age. Encounters increased among non-Hispanic black children across all periods relative to pre pandemic. Among non-Hispanic white children, encounters increased during the closure period and decreased on return to in-person instruction. Compared with pre pandemic, paediatric firearm-related encounters increased 205% for children aged 5-11 and 69% for adolescents aged 12-15 during the school closure period.CONCLUSION:
COVID-19-related changes to school instruction mode in 2020 and 2021 are associated with changes in the frequency and composition of paediatric firearm-related encounters at a major trauma centre in Tennessee.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ferimentos por Arma de Fogo
/
Armas de Fogo
/
COVID-19
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Humans
País como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article