Trends and correlates of child passenger restraint use in 6 Northwest tribes: the Native Children Always Ride Safe (Native CARS) project

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among US Youth

Importance

Mortality rates in US youth have increased in recent years. An understanding of the role of racial and ethnic disparities in these increases is lacking.

Objective

To compare all-cause and cause-specific mortality trends and rates among youth with Hispanic ethnicity and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, and White race.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study conducted temporal analysis (1999-2020) and comparison of aggregate mortality rates (2016-2020) for youth aged 1 to 19 years using US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database. Data were analyzed from June 30, 2023, to January 17, 2024.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Pooled, all-cause, and cause-specific mortality rates per 100 000 youth (hereinafter, per 100 000) for leading underlying causes of death were compared. Injuries were classified by mechanism and intent.

Results

Between 1999 and 2020, there were 491 680 deaths among US youth, including 8894 (1.8%) American Indian or Alaska Native, 14 507 (3.0%) Asian or Pacific Islander, 110 154 (22.4%) Black, 89 251 (18.2%) Hispanic, and 267 452 (54.4%) White youth. Between 2016 and 2020, pooled all-cause mortality rates were 48.79 per 100 000 (95% CI, 46.58-51.00) in American Indian or Alaska Native youth, 15.25 per 100 000 (95% CI, 14.75-15.76) in Asian or Pacific Islander youth, 42.33 per 100 000 (95% CI, 41.81-42.86) in Black youth, 21.48 per 100 000 (95% CI, 21.19-21.77) in Hispanic youth, and 24.07 per 100 000 (95% CI, 23.86-24.28) in White youth. All-cause mortality ratios compared with White youth were 2.03 (95% CI, 1.93-2.12) among American Indian or Alaska Native youth, 0.63 (95% CI, 0.61-0.66) among Asian or Pacific Islander youth, 1.76 (95% CI, 1.73-1.79) among Black youth, and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.88-0.91) among Hispanic youth. From 2016 to 2020, the homicide rate in Black youth was 12.81 (95% CI, 12.52-13.10) per 100 000, which was 10.20 (95% CI, 9.75-10.66) times that of White youth. The suicide rate for American Indian or Alaska Native youth was 11.37 (95% CI, 10.30-12.43) per 100 000, which was 2.60 (95% CI, 2.35-2.86) times that of White youth. The firearm mortality rate for Black youth was 12.88 (95% CI, 12.59-13.17) per 100 000, which was 4.14 (95% CI, 4.00-4.28) times that of White youth. American Indian or Alaska Native youth had a firearm mortality rate of 6.67 (95% CI, 5.85-7.49) per 100 000, which was 2.14 (95% CI, 1.88- 2.43) times that of White youth. Black youth had an asthma mortality rate of 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.18) per 100 000, which was 7.80 (95% CI, 6.78-8.99) times that of White youth.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, racial and ethnic disparities were observed for almost all leading causes of injury and disease that were associated with recent increases in youth mortality rates. Addressing the increasing disparities affecting American Indian or Alaska Native and Black youth will require efforts to prevent homicide and suicide, especially those events involving firearms.

Surveillance methods and interventions implemented in American Indian and Alaska Native communities to increase child restraint device and seat belt use in motor vehicles: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children are disproportionately affected by injuries and deaths related to motor vehicle crashes. We aimed to synthesise published evidence on surveillance methods and interventions implemented in AI/AN communities and analyse characteristics that make them successful in increasing child restraint devices and seat belt use.

METHODS

Studies were collected from the PubMed, Scopus, and TRID databases and the CDC Tribal Road Safety website, Community Guide, and Indian Health Service registers. Included studies collected primary data on AI/AN children (0-17) and reported morbidity/mortality outcomes related to child restraint devices or seat belt use. Studies with poor methodological quality, published before 2002, whose data were collected outside of the USA, or were non-English, were excluded. Checklists from the Joanna Briggs Institute were used to assess the risk of bias. In the synthesis of results, studies were grouped by whether a surveillance method or intervention was employed.

RESULTS

The final review included 9 studies covering 72 381 participants. Studies conducted surveillance methods, interventions involving law enforcement only and multipronged interventions. Multipronged approaches were most effective by using the distribution of child restraint devices combined with at least some of the following components: educational programmes, media campaigns, enactment/enforcement of child passenger restraint laws, incentive programmes and surveillance.

DISCUSSION

Although this review was limited by the number and quality of included studies, available resources suggest that we need multipronged, culturally tailored and sustainable interventions fostered by mutually beneficial and trusting partnerships. Continued investment in AI/AN road safety initiatives is necessary.

A Cross-Sectional Geographic Information Systems Study of a Pediatric Emergency Department Child Restraint System Distribution Program

INTRODUCTION

A pediatric ED program sought to promote injury prevention through distribution of child restraint systems. Program funds are paid for child passenger safety technician certification of all personnel. Pediatric emergency nurses distributed child restraint systems at hospital discharge and dedicated technicians at fitting stations. Researchers described program characteristics, developed a baseline understanding of program outreach using geographic information systems, and evaluated adherence to manufacturer guidelines with a sensitivity analysis.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study used distribution forms linked to hospital records from 2013 to 2016. Testing for differences used nonparametric methods. Median values and interquartile ranges for weight and height of children were compared with manufacturer guidelines. Geographic information systems visualized recipients' street addresses and motor vehicle crashes on an underlying base map.

RESULTS

There were 312 child restraint systems distributed: of which 179 (57.4%) at the hospital, 126 (40.4%) at fitting stations, and 7 (2.2%) missing a location. Among those on Medicaid, 64.4% received a child restraint system at the hospital compared with 35.6% at fitting stations (χ² = 5.40, P < .02). Fitting stations had limited outreach to rural residents. Finally, results from the sensitivity analysis showed that devices were issued according to manufacturer guidelines.

DISCUSSION

Despite the workplace pressures of clinical care, pediatric emergency nurses delivered educational information and demonstrated hands-on installation at similar rates to dedicated technicians. Distribution of child restraint systems through the hospital reached a uniquely underserved population. Further research should investigate methods to improve fitting station outreach among Medicaid recipients.

Differences in Injury Characteristics and Outcomes for American Indian/Alaska Native People Hospitalized with Traumatic Injuries: an Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank

OBJECTIVE

This study compares characteristics of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) hospitalized for traumatic injury and examines the effect of race on hospital disposition.

METHODS

Using 2007-2014 National Trauma Data Bank data, we described differences in demographic and injury characteristics between AI/AN (n = 39,656) and NHWs (n = 3,309,484) hospitalized with traumatic injuries. Multivariable regressions, adjusted for demographic and injury characteristics, compared in-hospital mortality and the risk of discharge to different dispositions (inpatient rehabilitation/long-term care facility, skilled nursing facility, home with home health services) rather than home between AI/AN and NHW patients.

RESULTS

Compared to NHWs, a higher proportion of AI/ANs were age 19-44 (49% versus 27%) years and hospitalized with assault-related injuries (25% versus 5%). AI/ANs had lower odds of dying than NHWs during hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.72, 95% CI 0.63-0.84). However, AI/ANs also had lower odds than NHWs to discharge to locations with additional health services even after controlling for injury severity (inpatient rehabilitation/long-term care facilities aOR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.93; skilled nursing facility aOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49-0.98; home with home health services aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.79).

CONCLUSIONS

Injury patterns and acute hospitalization outcomes were significantly different for AI/ANs compared to NHWs. Injury prevention strategies targeting AI/ANs should reflect these differential injury patterns. Outcomes such as disability and access to rehabilitation services should be included when considering the burden of injury among AI/AN communities.

Uncovering a missing demographic in trauma registries: epidemiology of trauma among American Indians and Alaska Natives in Washington State

BACKGROUND

The objectives of this study were to evaluate racial misclassification in a statewide trauma registry and to describe the epidemiology of trauma among the Washington American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population.

METHODS

We performed probabilistic record linkage between the Washington Trauma Registry (2005-2009) and Northwest Tribal Registry, a dataset of known AI/AN. AI/AN patients were compared with caucasians on demographic, injury and clinical outcome factors. A multivariable model estimated odds of mortality.

RESULTS

Record linkage increased ascertainment of AI/AN cases in the trauma registry 71%, from 1777 to 3039 cases. Compared with caucasians, AI/AN trauma patients were younger (mean age=36 vs 47 years, p<0.001) and more commonly male (66.5% vs 61.2%, p<0.001). AI/AN experienced more intentional injuries (suicide or homicide: 20.1% vs 6.7%, p<0.001), a higher proportion of severe traumatic brain injury (20.7% vs 16.8%, p=0.004) and were less likely than caucasians to use safety equipment such as seat belts/airbags (53.9% vs 76.7%, p<0.001). ISSs were similar (ISS >15: 21.4% vs 20.5%, p=0.63), and no difference was observed in mortality after adjustment for covariates (p=0.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Linkage to a state trauma registry improved data quality by correcting racial misclassification, allowing for a comprehensive description of injury patterns for the AI/AN population. AI/AN sustained more severe injuries with similar postinjury outcomes to caucasians. Future efforts should focus on primary prevention for this population, including increased use of seat belts and child safety seats and reduction of interpersonal violence and suicide.

Disparities in life expectancy of pacific northwest American Indians and Alaska natives: analysis of linkage-corrected life tables

OBJECTIVES

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience a high burden of mortality and other disparities compared with the general population. Life tables are an important population health indicator; however, federal agencies have not produced life tables for AI/ANs, largely due to racial misclassification on death certificates. Our objective was to correct this misclassification and create life tables for AI/ANs who resided in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S., making comparisons with the general population.

METHODS

To correct racial misclassification, we conducted probabilistic record linkages between death certificates from three Northwest states-Idaho, Oregon, and Washington State-issued during 2008-2010, and AI/AN patient registration records. We calculated mortality rates and generated period life tables for AI/ANs and non-Hispanic white (NHW) Americans.

RESULTS

Overall life expectancy at birth for Northwest AI/ANs was 72.8 years, which was 6.9 years lower than that of NHW Americans. Male AI/ANs had a lower life expectancy (70.9 years) than female AI/ANs (74.6 years). The disparity in life expectancy between AI/ANs and their NHW counterparts was higher for females (with AI/ANs living 7.3 years fewer than NHW females) than for males (with AI/ANs living 6.7 years fewer than NHW males). The greatest disparity in mortality rates was seen among young adults.

CONCLUSION

Data linkage with a registry of known AI/ANs allowed us to generate accurate life tables that had not previously been available for this population and revealed disparities in both life expectancy at birth and survival across the life span. These results represent an important tool to help AI/AN communities as they monitor their health and promote efforts to eliminate health disparities.

Buckle up safely (shoalhaven): a process and impact evaluation of a pragmatic, multifaceted preschool-based pilot program to increase correct use of age-appropriate child restraints

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a process and impact evaluation of a multifaceted education-based pilot program targeting correct use of age-appropriate restraints in a regional setting with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

METHODS

The program was delivered in 2010 in 3 early learning centers where 31 percent of the children were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Each component of the program was assessed for message consistency and uptake. To measure program effectiveness, participating children were matched 1:1 by age, language spoken at home, and annual household income with 71 children from the control arm of a contemporaneous trial. The outcome measure in the control and program centers (a 4-category ordinal scale of restraint use) was compared using ordinal logistic regression accounting for age of the parent.

RESULTS

Process evaluation found that though program components were delivered with a consistency of message, uptake was affected by turnover of all staff at one center and by parents experiencing difficulty in paying for subsidized restraints at each of the centers. Impact evaluation found that children from the centers receiving the program had nearly twice the odds of being in a better restraint category than children matched from the control group (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.90).

CONCLUSIONS

This was a pragmatic study reflecting the real-life issues of implementing a program in preschools where 57 percent of families had a low income and turnover of staff was high. Despite these issues, impact evaluation showed that the integrated educational program showed promise in increasing correct use of age-appropriate restraints. The findings from this pilot study support the use of an integrated educational program that includes access to subsidized restraints to promote best practice child restraint use among communities that include a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in New South Wales. Future trials in similar settings should consider offering more support in centers with high turnover of staff and offering alternative methods of payment when families experience financial difficulties in purchasing the subsidized restraints. If proven in larger trials, this approach could reduce death and injuries in child passengers in this vulnerable group.