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Mortality from interpersonal violence in Great Britain
1Academic Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, London.
Injury
|May 1, 1989
Summary
Interpersonal violence causes very few deaths in Great Britain, though injuries from it may be common. More research is needed to assess violence
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- Mortality from interpersonal violence is rare in Great Britain, representing 0.1% of all deaths in 1985.
- Homicide rates have increased but remain a minor public health concern.
- Morbidity from interpersonal violence may be more common than mortality suggests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the public health impact of interpersonal violence in Great Britain.
- To compare mortality and morbidity data related to interpersonal violence.
- To highlight the need for accurate morbidity estimates.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of death certificates and police reports for mortality data.
- Review of British Crime Surveys for morbidity data.
- Examination of studies from accident and emergency departments and hospitalized head injury patients.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal violence accounts for a very small percentage of deaths.
- Homicide, despite an increase, is not a major cause of death.
- Evidence suggests interpersonal violence morbidity may be relatively common.
Conclusions:
- Mortality from interpersonal violence is extremely low in Great Britain.
- The true public health significance of interpersonal violence cannot be determined without better morbidity data.
- Further research is essential for accurate assessment.