Road traffic injury (RTI) is a major threat to children and adolescents worldwide. RTIs account for 25.7 deaths per 100,000 people in the general population. Unlike in other western countries where road fatalities are declining, deaths in Ghana continue to rise. This study examined the injury characteristics and spatiotemporal patterns of pediatric RTI cases and inpatient fatalities across three zones in Ghana.

Motor vehicle crashes and resultant fatalities remain disproportionately high among young drivers, with crash risk peaking immediately after licensure. Although graduated driver licensing laws (GDL) for young novice drivers have reduced such fatalities, driver error remains a leading cause; thus, prevention efforts that target improving skills in novice teen drivers before licensure are a strong candidate for reducing crash risk early in licensure. States with more comprehensive driver licensing laws that include mandated driver training before licensure in addition to GDL show lower crash rates post-licensure, but these effects were not determined through rigorous controlled studies of driver training. This paper describes the DRIVER study, a phase III randomized trial that tests the effectiveness of two different driver training programs in reducing young driver crash risk early in licensure in Pennsylvania, a state like many others that does not require formal training for young drivers.

Puerto Rico (PR) endures numerous natural and human-caused disasters with significant impacts on community health and infrastructure each year. The Centers for Disease Control's Social Vulnerability Index (CDC-SVI) quantifies a community's capacity to prepare, respond, and recover from disasters. The SVI has been linked to all-cause mortality in the continental US, however, its relevance to suicide mortality, particularly in PR, remains understudied.

Firearm access and associated risk behaviors (i.e., firearm storage and carriage) are established factors that increase the risk of firearm-related injuries. While extant research has demonstrated associations between singular substance use and these risks, little is known regarding the impact of polysubstance use on these outcomes. The present study aims to investigate the relationships between polysubstance use in adolescence and four specific firearm-related risks manifesting in emerging adulthood.

Violence is a leading cause of death and disparity in the United States. Individuals' physical and social environments can prevent or foster violence, but these complex milieus are challenging to model. In this study, we used machine learning to identify features of the local environment that are most predictive of violence in two Midwestern cities struggling with disinvestment and crime.

Fall injuries on ice and snow are a major public health problem in cold climates, placing a substantial seasonal burden on healthcare systems and affected individuals. To prevent such injuries, many Swedish municipalities have implemented programs that distribute ice cleats, typically restricted to adults aged ≥ 65. Evidence suggests these programs increase cleat use, reduce injuries, and are cost-effective. However, it remains unclear whether restricting distribution to older adults is more effective than broader or universal strategies. This study is the first to formally evaluate this question.

This study evaluated the excess out-of-hospital healthcare costs associated with unintentional childhood injuries in Australia. This relationship was investigated within a longitudinal biennially surveyed cohort of 8,852 children aged 0-19 years. We assessed whether costs increased over age and with the duration of injury prevalence. Results were compared against cost estimates from similar studies in Australia and analogous developed nations.

People with disabilities (PwD) are at an increased risk of experiencing nonfatal violence; however, the risk of fatal violence victimization (i.e., homicide) among this population is less well established.

Self-harm is a risk factor for suicide completion, and repeated self-harm carries an even greater risk. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of patients who repeatedly presented to the emergency department (ED) for self-harm.

Firearms are a leading cause of death among Black adults in the U.S., accounting for more than 300,000 years of potential life lost in each of the past five years. Firearms are particularly challenging for suicide prevention in Black American communities. Few recent studies have been dedicated to investigating firearm ownership and safety challenges among Black adults. Without this understanding, promising interventions such as safe storage programs and lethal means counseling may inadequately address the specific challenges and motivations relevant to Black firearm owners. Our objective was to gather feedback from Black adults with access to firearms in their homes on their (1) experience with firearms (2), rationale for firearms being in their homes, and (3) perceived challenges or barriers to safely storing firearms in their homes.

Political violence constitutes an increasing threat to individual and population-level health in the United States, with military service identified as a potential risk factor. The current study examines the association between military service, combat experience, and support for and willingness to engage in political violence and approval of extremist organizations and movements.

The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics and trends of consumer product-related fractures among children < 18 years old treated in United States (US) emergency departments (EDs).

Social media challenges (SMC) are activities individuals perform as content for social media, sometimes being "challenged" by others to join. Some of these challenges can cause injuries and even death. While SMC are frequently reported in media, peer-reviewed literature on SMC is limited and varied. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review of risky SMC to map the research area.

In the US, federal law prohibits firearm possession and purchasing for individuals with convictions for a felony or domestic violence misdemeanor. If a prohibiting conviction occurred in a state court, then state law dictates how/when a prohibited person can later have their firearm rights reinstated. To our knowledge, there is limited empirical research documenting the frequency and characteristics of individuals who receive firearm rights restoration (FRR). Research is needed to guide policy, balancing the need to prioritize public safety while also fairly re-instating rights for formerly convicted individuals. We sought to address this research gap by examining FRR data from Washington state (2017-2022). During this time period, FRR granting was largely procedural (i.e., non-discretionary).

Access to firearms is associated with elevated risk for suicide; however, knowledge of firearm ownership and characteristics among rural residing women Veterans remains limited. Given increasing rates of firearm suicide among women Veterans, we examined if rurality was associated with firearm ownership and firearm characteristics (type, number, reasons for ownership, perceived safety, storage) among women Veterans.

Too little is known about the distribution of risk for committing political violence, a serious concern for the United States. This study explores the association between affiliation with the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement and support for and willingness to engage in political violence.

Because of limitations to government data on police-related violence, researchers commonly use open-source data as the best approximation for studying the prevalence, causes, and prevention of police killings and other police-related violence in the United States. However, the comprehensiveness and accuracy of these open sources are not well known.

Cyclists are vulnerable road users, with preventable deaths increasing by 48% over the past decade. This study aimed to review the epidemiology of cyclist fatalities to identify risk factors for targeted interventions through a safe system approach, with a focus on urban and rural environments.

Urban design sets the conditions under which individuals encounter one another. It is modifiable and can be an important intervention point for firearm assault prevention. Higher vehicle traffic, a previously under-studied exposure in firearm injury research, may contribute to firearm violence by fostering spaces that create interpersonal encounters while hindering positive social processes. We aimed to examine the association between vehicle traffic and firearm injury risk within the city of Portland, OR.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is correlated with gunshot violence. This study examined the associations between SES and the severity of gunshot injuries in Israel.

Firearm thefts from motor vehicles are currently the leading source of stolen firearms in the United States. Yet little is known about the temporal, spatial, and contextual characteristics of these thefts. This study aims to advance understanding of firearm theft from vehicles by analyzing all reported incidents that occurred in San Antonio, Texas, in 2024.