Presenter
Ruth McKinnon
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
The purpose of this project is to quantify Rhode Island's burden of injury and violence (2020‚Äì2023), describe key trends and demographic differences, and demographic differences, and inform targeted prevention. This statewide analysis used injury-related fatality, hospital discharge, and emergency department (ED) visit data from all Rhode Island hospitals (2020‚Äì2023). Events were classified by mechanism/intent via ICD-10/ICD-10-CM external-cause codes. Mortality, hospitalization, and ED visit rates per 100,000 were calculated using population estimates; counts were summarized. Rates were stratified by sex and age. Mechanisms included falls, traumatic brain injury (TBI), self-harm/suicide, motor-vehicle crashes (MVA), assault/homicide, and other causes (fire, firearm, drowning, non‚ Äìdrug poisoning). Injury and violence remain substantial‚ Äîand preventable‚ Äîhealth burdens. Age- and sex-stratified patterns identify priorities falls in older adults, male-predominant suicide mortality, assault injuries in young adults, age-related TBI mortality, and excess male risk for fatal MVAs. Results support targeted, population-based prevention. This multi-source, statewide analysis provides current, Rhode Island‚ Äìspecific estimates to guide resource allocation, program planning, and policy. Aligning investments with high-risk mechanisms and subgroups can improve population safety statewide.
Faculty Mentor
Sam Rosenthal, Ph.D, MPH
Academic Discipline
College of Arts & Sciences
Repository Citation
McKinnon, Ruth, "Injury and Violence in Rhode Island" (2026). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 265.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/265
