Understanding the Murder of Children and Intervening to Reduce the Risk

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Found at Medscape.com:

From Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing eJournal

Posted 09/03/2003

Susan B. Patton, APRN-BC, MNSc, DNSc

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Homicide is the fourth leading cause of death for US children aged 1 to 14 years and the second leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 24 years. Between 1996 and 2001, 104 children aged birth to 17 years were murdered in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. The objective of this study was to examine public records of those deaths in the context of total national child fatalities during the same time period. Comparisons were made among county, state, and national statistics on child homicide as well as a profile of the injuries suffered. Results indicate that child homicides in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee are consistent with national data in terms of manner of death. Of children under 4 years of age who were murdered (n = 26), eighteen died from blunt injuries to the head and torso, while youths above the age of 10 years accounted for 82% (n = 37) of the gunshot or knife stab wounds. Most notably, 77% (n = 1043) of the decedents and 91% (n = 71) of the homicides in this time period occurred in African American children. During a single year of the study, 50% of the homicides in Memphis occurred in a single residential zip code. These findings have major implications for forensic nursing leadership, and other advanced practice nurses, in developing a public health model of prevention.

Introduction

In 2000, the World Health Organization attributed 57,000 deaths of children under 15 years of age to homicide, and homicide rates for the 0- to 4-year-old age group were more than double those of 5 to 14 year olds.[1] Homicide is the fourth leading cause of death for US children aged 1 to 14 years and the second leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 24 years.[2] While internationally, the murder of children occurs to a large degree in armed conflict, children in the United States more commonly are murdered by caretakers.[3] This is especially true for US children under the age of 4 years.[4]

Just as the conditions under which children are killed differ from country to country, communities within the United States present their own unique risks. Of note, prevention is possible by examining the nature of the risk of injury within a community.[5] The present study presents findings on the murder of children over a 5-year period in one urban community. Comparisons are made with other causes of death within the population as a whole. The overrepresentation of African American children as victims is noted. Violence as a preventable public health issue is discussed in terms of culturally appropriate interventions applicable to the advanced practice nurse practicing in both primary care and forensic settings.

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http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/459406