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Kemal S, Jones-Robinson L, Rak K, Otoo C, Barrera L, Sheehan K. Exploring Firearm Access, Carriage, and Possession among Justice-Involved Youth. J Community Health 2024:10.1007/s10900-024-01356-3. [PMID: 38581624 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-024-01356-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Firearm carriage and possession predicts youth firearm violence victimization and perpetration. This study describes self-reported factors associated with firearm access, carriage, and possession among justice-involved youth. We conducted an exploratory, mixed-methods study. Participants were recruited from May 2022 to February 2023 from the Juvenile Justice Collaborative, a diversion program for justice-involved youth. We used online anonymous surveys to investigate exposures related to firearm access, carriage, and possession. We performed semi-structured interviews using the phenomenology framework. We used descriptive statistics to examine firearm exposures by participant demographics. We performed qualitative analyses using an iterative approach with constant comparison to identify key themes. We completed 28 surveys and 5 interviews. Most survey participants identified as male (57%) and Black (61%) with a median age of 18 years. Interview participants described the socialization and cultural normalization of firearms, most prominently among peers. Survey participants reported whether they had ever carried (25%) or possessed (21%) a firearm. Survey and interview participants endorsed protection in the context of increasing violence exposure over time as the primary motivation for firearm possession. Interview participants describe accessing firearms primarily through social networks while survey participants also reported access from strangers (25%) and licensed sellers/gun dealers (18%). In conclusion, justice-involved youth believe firearm carriage and possession may be needed for protection due to increasing violence exposure. Further investigation is necessary to determine interventions that may decrease firearm access, carriage, and possession among justice-involved youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaa Kemal
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Avenue, Box 62, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
| | - Lauren Jones-Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Kevin Rak
- Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communitiese, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Cassandra Otoo
- Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communitiese, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Leonardo Barrera
- Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
| | - Karen Sheehan
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Avenue, Box 62, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communitiese, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States
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Reilly JJ, Naumann DN, Morris L, Blackburn L, Brooks A. Injury by knife crime amongst children is associated with socioeconomic deprivation: an observational study. Pediatr Surg Int 2022; 39:8. [PMID: 36441280 PMCID: PMC9705482 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-022-05298-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Children who live in areas of socioeconomic deprivation may be at higher risk of being victims of violent crime such as knife wounds. The current study investigated whether socioeconomic disparity was associated with higher risk of knife crime. METHODS An observational study included patients aged ≤ 17 years at a UK Major Trauma Centre injured by knife trauma from 2016 to 2022. Indices of deprivation were recorded according to the zip code of residence and compared with those of all of England. These included Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD); income; employment; education and skills; health and disability; crime; barriers to housing and services; living environment; and Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI). RESULTS There were 139 patients (96% male) with median age of 16 years. When compared with the whole of England, patients had worse indices of IMD (p = 0.021); income (p < 0.001); employment (p < 0.001); education and skills (p < 0.001); health and disability; and IDACI (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in indices of crime, barriers to housing and services or living environment. CONCLUSIONS Paediatric knife injury was associated with poor socioeconomic status in multiple domains. Focussed efforts to address socioeconomic disparities should be a priority as a public health measure for vulnerable children.
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Affiliation(s)
- John-Joe Reilly
- Department of Major Trauma, East Midlands Major Trauma Centre, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - David N Naumann
- Department of Major Trauma, East Midlands Major Trauma Centre, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
- University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Louise Morris
- Department of Major Trauma, East Midlands Major Trauma Centre, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lauren Blackburn
- Department of Major Trauma, East Midlands Major Trauma Centre, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Adam Brooks
- Department of Major Trauma, East Midlands Major Trauma Centre, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
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Grzejszczak J, Gabryelska A, Gmitrowicz A, Kotlicka-Antczak M, Strzelecki D. Are Children Harmed by Being Locked up at Home? The Impact of Isolation during the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Phenomenon of Domestic Violence. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13958. [PMID: 36360840 PMCID: PMC9657348 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The phenomenon of violence against children is a very complex one. There are many types of child abuse, and they are culturally dependent to a significant degree. Although studies show that children generally only suffer from mild COVID-19 infection, some social restrictions introduced during the pandemic, such as home isolation, may have many severe consequences on the population's mental health. Studies on this topic suggest that violence against children increased during lockdown due to the COVID-10 pandemic. This narrative review summarizes this available literature on the subject and discusses the different forms of violence against children, their cultural aspects, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the phenomenon of violence, the long-term consequences of the above, and forms of assistance for abused minors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoda Grzejszczak
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Lodz, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agata Gabryelska
- Department of Sleep Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gmitrowicz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Lodz, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Dominik Strzelecki
- Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
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Lee LK, Fleegler EW, Goyal MK, Doh KF, Laraque-Arena D, Hoffman BD, Injury Violence And Poison Prevention CO. Firearm-Related Injuries and Deaths in Children and Youth. Pediatrics 2022; 150:189687. [PMID: 36207778 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-060071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Firearms are the leading cause of death in children and youth 0 to 24 years of age in the United States. In 2020, firearms resulted in 10,197 deaths (fatality rate 9.91/100,000 youth 0-24 years old). Firearms are the leading mechanism of death in pediatric suicides and homicides. Increased access to firearms is associated with increased rates of firearm deaths. Substantial disparities in firearm injuries and deaths exist by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation and gender identity and for deaths related to legal intervention. Barriers to firearm access can decrease the risk to youth for firearm suicide, homicide, or unintentional shooting injury and death. Given the high lethality of firearms and the impulsivity associated with suicidal ideation, removing firearms from the home or securely storing them-referred to as lethal means restriction of firearms-is critical, especially for youth at risk for suicide. Primary care-, emergency department-, mental health-, hospital-, and community-based intervention programs can effectively screen and intervene for individuals at risk for harming themselves or others. The delivery of anticipatory guidance coupled with safety equipment provision improves firearm safer storage. Strong state-level firearm legislation is associated with decreased rates of firearm injuries and death. This includes legislation focused on comprehensive firearm licensing strategies and extreme risk protection order laws. A firm commitment to confront this public health crisis with a multipronged approach engaging all stakeholders, including individuals, families, clinicians, health systems, communities, public health advocates, firearm owners and nonowners, and policy makers, is essential to address the worsening firearm crisis facing US youth today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lois K Lee
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Eric W Fleegler
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Monika K Goyal
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Kiesha Fraser Doh
- Division of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Emory University/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
| | - Danielle Laraque-Arena
- New York Academy of Medicine, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, Departments of Epidemiology and Pediatrics, New York, NY
| | - Benjamin D Hoffman
- Division of General Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
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Lee LK, Fleegler EW, Goyal MK, Doh KF, Laraque-Arena D, Hoffman BD, Injury Violence And Poison Prevention CO. Firearm-Related Injuries and Deaths in Children and Youth: Injury Prevention and Harm Reduction. Pediatrics 2022; 150:189686. [PMID: 36207776 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-060070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Firearms are the leading cause of death in children and youth 0 to 24 years of age in the United States. They are also an important cause of injury with long-term physical and mental health consequences. A multipronged approach with layers of protection focused on harm reduction, which has been successful in decreasing motor vehicle-related injuries, is essential to decrease firearm injuries and deaths in children and youth. Interventions should be focused on the individual, household, community, and policy level. Strategies for harm reduction for pediatric firearm injuries include providing anticipatory guidance regarding the increased risk of firearm injuries and deaths with firearms in the home as well as the principles of safer firearm storage. In addition, lethal means counseling for patients and families with individuals at risk for self-harm and suicide is important. Community-level interventions include hospital and community-based violence intervention programs. The implementation of safety regulations for firearms as well as enacting legislation are also essential for firearm injury prevention. Increased funding for data infrastructure and research is also crucial to better understand risks and protective factors for firearm violence, which can then inform effective prevention interventions. To reverse this trend of increasing firearm violence, it is imperative for the wider community of clinicians, public health advocates, community stakeholders, researchers, funders, and policy makers to collaboratively address the growing public health crisis of firearm injuries in US youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lois K Lee
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Eric W Fleegler
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Monika K Goyal
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Kiesha Fraser Doh
- Division of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Emory University/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
| | - Danielle Laraque-Arena
- New York Academy of Medicine, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, Departments of Epidemiology and Pediatrics, New York, NY
| | - Benjamin D Hoffman
- Division of General Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
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