Fatal Injuries Among Children by Race and Ethnicity — United States, 1999-2002

Problem/Condition: In the United States, unintentional injury, homicide, and suicide are the first, second, and fourth leading causes of death among persons aged 1-19 years, respectively; the highest rates have occurred among minority populations. The effects of age on the difference in rates between white and minority children and the mechanisms of injury that contribute most to that difference have not been previously reported. Reporting Period Covered: Data are presented for fatal injuries among children in the United States by race/ethnicity and mechanism of injury during 1999-2002. Trends in injury mortality by race/ethnicity are provided for 1982-2002. Description of System: Fatal injury data were derived from death certificates reported through CDC's National Vital Statistics System. Results: During 1999-2002, among infants aged