Injury Hospitalizations and Deaths in Hawaii: Ethnic Diversity

• NCJ Number: 154771
• Author(s): D Goebert; K Birnie; B Kronabel; I Percival; E Tash
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 11 pages
• Contract Number(s): H133B90001
• Sponsoring Agency: Gang Intelligence Strategy Committee
• Corporate Author: Hawaii Dept of Health; Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research & Training Ctr
• Sale Source: Hawaii Dept of Health
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study of causes of injury among ethnic groups in Hawaii found that annual injury death and hospitalization rates varied dramatically among ethnic groups.

Abstract

Data from death certificates and medical records showed that injury death rates were lowest among African, Japanese, and Chinese Americans and that injury death rates were highest among Samoan Americans, Puerto Rican, and Korean Americans. Samoan Americans and Hawaiians/Part Hawaiians had higher death rates associated with vehicular injuries, while Korean, Japanese, and European Americans had higher death rates due to suicide. Assault was an important factor in injuries for Korean, Samoan, Filipino, and Puerto Rican Americans. Samoan and European Americans had extremely high injury hospitalization rates, 1496.5 and 1025.7 per 100,000 residents, respectively. Falls represented the major contributor to injury hospitalization for Chinese, Filipino, and European Americans. As with injury deaths, vehicular accidents accounted for a significant portion of hospitalized injuries for Pacific Islanders. Suicide attempts constituted a consistent portion of injury hospitalization for most ethnic groups, and assaults accounted for a similar proportion of injury hospitalizations and deaths for all ethnic groups. Cultural factors in injury hospitalizations and deaths are discussed, and injury prevention recommendations are offered. 17 references and 6 figures