Effect of war on weapon-related deaths in Croatian children and youth
Mujkic, A.; Peek-Asa, C.; Young, T.; Rodin, U.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 162(2): 140-144
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1072-4710 PMID: 18250238 DOI: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2007.31Document Number: 198730
Objective: To identify trends in weapon-related deaths associated with the Homeland War ( 1991-1995) among children in Croatia.Design: Retrospective review.Participants: Croatian children aged from birth through 19 years who died as the result of a weapon-related injury from 1986 through 2005.Main Exposure: Injury deaths of children by intent ( homicide, suicide, operations of war, and unintentional), cause, and age.Outcome Measures: Number and rate of injury deaths among Croatian children before, during, and after the war.Results: Compared with the period before the war, weapon-related homicide and suicide rates increased by more than 3-fold, and unintentional weapon-related deaths increased by more than 6-fold during the war. These increases persisted for 5 years following the end of the war and decreased more than 5 years after the war. Death rates from nonweapon causes did not increase during this period. Overall, 81.9% of the weapon-related deaths were caused by firearms and 18.1% were caused by explosive devices.Conclusions: The Homeland War led to an increase in weapon-related deaths of all intents. Programs that focus on the prevention of weapon-related injuries should be integrated into programs that assist countries in rebuilding after political unrest.