Unintentional Injury Deaths and Suicide in Frontier Areas—Georgia, 2015-2021
Abstract
Background
Many studies have examined urban-rural mortality differences, but few have focused on the estimated 12.2 million Americans living in sparsely populated rural areas isolated from population centers (frontier areas), including nearly 60,000 Georgia residents. Frontier areas often have demographic, socio-economic, and other qualities that make them distinct. This study compares mortality rates from unintentional injuries and suicides between frontier and non-frontier areas in Georgia.
Methods
The 2015-2021 National Vital Statistics System’s Mortality data were analyzed for unintentional injury and suicide deaths by frontier, non-frontier/non-metro, and metro areas (GA county of residence). Unintentional (V01-V99, W00-W99, X00-X59, Y85-Y86) and suicide (X60-X84, Y870, U03) intent categories follow International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes. Frontier areas were defined using 2010 FIPS codes from the National Center for Frontier Communities, which considers population density and distance/travel time to the closest services. Other areas were defined using the 2013 NCHS Urban-Rural Classification scheme.
Results
Between 2015-2021 over 52,000 Georgians suffered an injury-related death; most (66%) were unintentional injuries and 20% were suicides. During this time period, Georgia frontier areas had higher age-adjusted mortality rates (AAR) for unintentional injury (AAR=69.45) when compared to non-frontier/non-metro (AAR=57.90) and metro areas (AAR=44.57). Non-frontier/non-metro areas had the highest suicide rate (AAR= 16.50), followed by frontier (AAR=15.55) and metro areas (AAR=13.49). Motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of injury death for frontier and non-frontier/non-metro areas, while poisoning was the leading cause in metro areas.
Conclusion
Frontier areas experience a higher burden of unintentional injury deaths and suicide compared to non-frontier/non-metro areas and metro areas. Understanding these differences can inform strategies for prevention. CDC’s Injury Center works to support injury and suicide prevention through programs like the Core State Injury Prevention Program, and through prevention resources like the Suicide Prevention Resource for Action, and the MyMobility Planning tool.
Keywords
suicide, unintentional injury, frontier
Unintentional Injury Deaths and Suicide in Frontier Areas—Georgia, 2015-2021
Background
Many studies have examined urban-rural mortality differences, but few have focused on the estimated 12.2 million Americans living in sparsely populated rural areas isolated from population centers (frontier areas), including nearly 60,000 Georgia residents. Frontier areas often have demographic, socio-economic, and other qualities that make them distinct. This study compares mortality rates from unintentional injuries and suicides between frontier and non-frontier areas in Georgia.
Methods
The 2015-2021 National Vital Statistics System’s Mortality data were analyzed for unintentional injury and suicide deaths by frontier, non-frontier/non-metro, and metro areas (GA county of residence). Unintentional (V01-V99, W00-W99, X00-X59, Y85-Y86) and suicide (X60-X84, Y870, U03) intent categories follow International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes. Frontier areas were defined using 2010 FIPS codes from the National Center for Frontier Communities, which considers population density and distance/travel time to the closest services. Other areas were defined using the 2013 NCHS Urban-Rural Classification scheme.
Results
Between 2015-2021 over 52,000 Georgians suffered an injury-related death; most (66%) were unintentional injuries and 20% were suicides. During this time period, Georgia frontier areas had higher age-adjusted mortality rates (AAR) for unintentional injury (AAR=69.45) when compared to non-frontier/non-metro (AAR=57.90) and metro areas (AAR=44.57). Non-frontier/non-metro areas had the highest suicide rate (AAR= 16.50), followed by frontier (AAR=15.55) and metro areas (AAR=13.49). Motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of injury death for frontier and non-frontier/non-metro areas, while poisoning was the leading cause in metro areas.
Conclusion
Frontier areas experience a higher burden of unintentional injury deaths and suicide compared to non-frontier/non-metro areas and metro areas. Understanding these differences can inform strategies for prevention. CDC’s Injury Center works to support injury and suicide prevention through programs like the Core State Injury Prevention Program, and through prevention resources like the Suicide Prevention Resource for Action, and the MyMobility Planning tool.
