Deaths from violence in North Carolina, 2004: how deaths differ in females and males

Abstract

Objective: To identify gender differences in violent deaths in terms of incidence, circumstances, and methods of death. Design: Analysis of surveillance data. Setting: North Carolina, a state of 8.6 million residents on the eastern seaboard of the US. Subjects: 1674 North Carolina residents who died from violence in the state during 2004. Methods: Information on violent deaths was collected by the North Carolina Violent Death Reporting System using data from death certificates, medical examiner reports, and law enforcement agency incidence reports. Results: Suicide and homicide rates were lower for females than males. For suicides, females were more likely than males to have a diagnosis of depression (55% v 36%), a current mental health problem (66% v 42%), or a history of suicide attempts (25% v 13%). Firearms were the sole method of suicide in 65% of males and 42% of females. Poisonings were more common in female than male suicides (37% v 12%). Male and female homicide victims were most likely to die from a handgun or a sharp instrument. Fifty seven percent of female homicides involved intimate partner violence, compared with 13% of male homicides. Among female homicides involving intimate partner violence, 78% occurred in the woman's home. White females had a higher rate of suicide than African-American females, but African-American females had a higher rate of homicide than white females. Conclusions: The incidence, circumstances, and methods of fatal violence differ greatly between females and males. These differences should be taken into account in the development of violence prevention efforts.

Non-firearm-related homicide, New Mexico, 2001–3

“…The extent of non-firearm-related homicides that involve intimate partner violence should be clarified, where homicide may possibly happen after fights between partners. A study of deaths from violence in North Carolina and other reports showed that intimate partner violence played a key role in the majority of female homicides 19 20 21. Sex-specific homicide-prevention strategies should take into account these findings when women are more likely than men to be the victims of non-firearm-related rather than firearm-related homicide.…”

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence with Male Patients: A Review and Introduction of Pilot Guidelines

“…A recent study on deaths from violence in North Carolina and the different epidemiologic patterns of death for males and females revealed that approximated 13% of all male homicides involved IPV in some way and that 4% of men killed were directly killed by an intimate partner. 63,64 Men also sustain injuries inflicted by their intimate partners, but these injury patterns have not been well studied. 65 Coker et al re-examined the NVAWS data to determine the physical and mental health effects of both physical and psychological IPV victimization on men and women.…”

Characteristics of adult male and female firearm suicide decedents: findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System

“…The NVDRS is the first data system to link multiple sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of factors that are associated with violent death 16. Remarkably, few studies have used the NVDRS to address the circumstances surrounding suicide mortality 17 18 19 20. Equally important, none of the studies has examined the factors associated with suicides involving firearms.…”