Butte County
Injury Profile (1991-1995)

Fast Facts
Injury is the leading cause of death for children 0-20 years of age in Butte County. During 1991-1995, 84 children were killed and 1,005 children were hospitalized as a result of injury. The leading causes of injury death were motor vehicle crashes, drowning and firearms. The leading causes of injury hospitalization were motor vehicle crashes, falls and poisonings.

• Injury Deaths (1991-1995)
• Injury was the leading cause of death for children under age 21.
• Injury deaths in children accounted for 28% of child deaths from all causes. By contrast, injury deaths among persons older that 20 years of age represented less than 6% of adult deaths from all causes.
• Of the 84 child injury deaths, 72 resulted from unintentional injuries (e.g. motor vehicle crashes). Homicide and suicide (intentional injuries) accounted for 12 injury deaths.
• Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of child injury death in Butte County, accounting for nearly 40.5% of all child injury deaths (34). Drowning and firearms were the second and third leading causes of injury death. In California as a whole the pattern is different: homicide is the leading cause of injury death, followed by motor vehicle crashes and suicide.
• Over half (56%) of the child injury deaths were among children 15-20 years.

Injury Hospitalizations (1991-1995)

• During 1991-1995, 1,005 children were admitted to hospitals for treatment of injuries for an average of 201 per year.
• For each injury death there were 12 children hospitalized as a result of injury.
• Of the 1,005 child injury hospitalizations, 899 resulted from unintentional injuries (e.g. motor vehicle crashes).
• Overall, motor vehicle crashes, falls and poisonings were the three leading causes of child injury hospitalizations. In California the pattern differed significantly: the three leading causes of child injury hospitalizations were assault, motor vehicle crashes and attempted suicide.
• Males accounted for the larger percent (65.8%) of child injury hospitalizations compared to females (34.2%)
• Hospital charges in Butte County for the initial hospitalization of children due to injuries was greater than 14 million dollars with the average charge for hospitalization being $14,691 per child. In California, the average cost for injury hospitalizations for 1996 was $14,796.
• Hospital days in Butte County for injured children amounted to 4,450, with an average stay of 4.5 days. In California, the average stay in 1996 was 3.9 days.
• Injuries resulted in 29 hospitalizations under 1 year, 153 hospitalizations to children ages 1-4 years, 150 hospitalizations to children 5-9 years, 201 hospitalizations to children 10-14 years and 472 hospitalizations to children ages 15-20.
• For children less than 1 year, falls and poisonings were the leading causes of injury hospitalizations followed by motor vehicle crashes.
• For children ages 1-4, falls and poisoning were the leading causes of injury hospitalization, followed by motor vehicle crashes.
• For children ages 5-9, falls and motor vehicle were the leading causes of injury hospitalization, followed by bicycle crashes.
• For children ages 10-14 years, falls and motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of injury hospitalization, followed by poisoning.
• For children ages 15-20, motor vehicle crashes and falls were the leading cause of injury hospitalization, followed by poisoning.
• Injury hospitalization rates per 100,000 population were highest for children 15-20 years old and lowest for children 5-9 years old (563.3 versus 228.7)

Sources:
Butte County Injury Profile, June 1998 California Center Childhood Injury Prevention. Hospital discharge data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and death data from the California Dept. of Health Services for 1991-1995 and 1990 Census data from the California Dept. of Finance was used in report. 2) EPIC Proportions, Report No. 9, Epidemiology, Prevention and Injury Control (EPIC) Branch, California Dept. of Health Services

Prepared by:
Butte County Department of Public Health
Childhood Injury Prevention Project
2430 Bird Street, Oroville, CA 95965 (530) 538-7830
1-800-339-2941
June 1998

Children Killed in Motor Vehicle Crashes 98 - 00