Fatal Firearm Violence and Previous Interactions With the Pediatric Health Care System

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Healthcare
• Violence Prevention

Background:

• Young individuals experiencing firearm violence have complex interactions with the pediatric healthcare system.
• Understanding documented risk factors is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe young firearm violence victims' interactions with pediatric healthcare, focusing on emergency department (ED) care.
• To characterize victims' risk factors for firearm violence as recorded in medical records.

Main Methods:

• Identified fatally shot individuals aged 13-30 in Washington, D.C. (2018-2022) using the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).
• Matched GVA victims to pediatric hospital medical records for analysis of demographics, risk factors, and healthcare utilization.

Main Results:

• 352 patients met inclusion criteria; common risk factors included accidental injury (70.5%), violent injury (45.4%), and juvenile justice involvement (32.9%).
• A small proportion (9.4%) with over 5 risk factors accounted for a significant portion of total documented risks.
• Victims had frequent ED visits (mean 5.74) and outpatient clinic utilization (70.1%).

Conclusions:

• Young firearm violence victims present with diverse risk factors and multiple healthcare touchpoints.
• Each healthcare interaction is a critical opportunity for screening and intervention.
• Addressing systemic inequities is essential for preventing firearm violence.