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OBJECTIVES: Gun violence in the United States is a public health crisis. In 2019, gun injury became the leading cause of death among children aged birth to 19 years. Moreover, the United States has had 57 times as many school shootings as all other major industrialized nations combined. The purpose of this study was to understand the frequency of school-related gun violence across a quarter century, considering both school shootings and school mass shootings. METHODS: We drew on 2 publicly available datasets whose data allowed us to tabulate the fre- quency of school shootings and school mass shootings. The databases contain complementary data that provide a longitudinal, comprehensive view of school-related gun violence over the past quarter century. RESULTS: Across the 1997--1998 to 2021--2022 school years, there were 1453 school shootings. The most recent 5 school years reflected a substantially higher number of school shootings than the prior 20 years. In contrast, US school mass shootings have not increased, although school mass shootings have become more deadly. CONCLUSIONS: School shootings have risen in frequency in the recent 25 years and are now at their highest recorded levels. School mass shootings, although not necessarily increasing in frequency, have become more deadly. This leads to detrimental outcomes for all the nation's youth, not just those who experience school-related gun violence firsthand. School-based interventions can be used to address this public health crisis, and effective approaches such as Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports and services should be used in support of students' mental health and academic and behavioral needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of births in the United States declined by 1% between 2010 and 2011, to a total of 3?953?593. The general fertility rate also declined by 1% to 63.2 births per 1000 women, the lowest rate ever reported. The total fertility rate was down by 2% in 2011 (to 1894.5 births per 1000 women). The teenage birth rate fell to another historic low in 2011, 31.3 births per 1000 women. Birth rates also declined for women aged 20 to 29 years, but the rates increased for women aged 35 to 39 and 40 to 44 years. The percentage of all births to unmarried women declined slightly to 40.7% in 2011, from 40.8% in 2010. In 2011, the cesarean delivery rate was unchanged from 2010 at 32.8%. The preterm birth rate declined for the fifth straight year in 2011 to 11.72%; the low birth weight rate declined slightly to 8.10%. The infant mortality rate was 6.05 infant deaths per 1000 live births in 2011, which was not significantly lower than the rate of 6.15 deaths in 2010. Life expectancy at birth was 78.7 years in 2011, which was unchanged from 2010. Crude death rates for children aged 1 to 19 years did not change significantly between 2010 and 2011. Unintentional injuries and homicide were the first and second leading causes of death, respectively, in this age group. These 2 causes of death jointly accounted for 47.0% of all deaths of children and adolescents in 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to obtain a broad understanding of inpatient deaths across academic children's hospitals. METHODS: A nonconcurrent cohort study of children hospitalized in 37 academic children's hospitals in 2005 was performed. The primary outcome was death. Patient characteristics including age, gender, race, diagnostic grouping, and insurance status and epidemiological measures including standardized mortality rate and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were used. RESULTS: A total of 427 615 patients were discharged duringthe study period, of whom 4529(1.1%) died. Neonates had the highest mortality rate (4.03%; odds ratio: 8.66; P< .001), followed by patients >18 years of age (1.4%; odds ratio: 2.86; P< .001). The SMRs ranged from 0.46 (all patient-refined, diagnosis-related group 663, other anemias and disorders of blood) to 30.0 (all patient-refined, diagnosis-related group 383, cellulitis and other bacterial skin infections). When deaths were compared according to institution, there was considerable variability in both the number of children who died and the SMRs at those institutions. CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics, such as age, severity, and diagnosis, were all substantive factors associated with the death of children. Opportunities to improve the environment of care by reducing variability within and between hospitals may improve mortality rates for hospitalized children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The child dependency ratio far exceeded the elderly dependency ratio during most of the 20th century, particularly during the first 70 years. The elderly ratio has gained incrementally since then and the large increase expected beginning in 2010 indicates that the difference in the 2 ratios will become considerably less by 2030. The challenge for the 21st century is how to balance the needs of children with the growing demands for a large aging population of elderly persons. Pediatrics 2000;106:1307-1317; birth, child mortality, death, dependency ratio, fertility, infant mortality, life expectancy, low birth weight, maternal mortality, natality, vital statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. To assess the effect of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic on mortality in US children younger than 15 years of age and to identify associated causes of death, the authors examined final national mortality statistics for 1988, the most recent year for which such data are available. In 1988, there were 249 deaths attributed to HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in children younger than 15 years of age. Associated causes of death listed most frequently on 270 death certificates with any mention of HIV/AIDS included conditions within the AIDS surveillance case definition (30%), pneumonia (excluding Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) (17%), septicemia (10%), and noninfectious respiratory diseases (8%). The impact of HIV/ AIDS as a cause of death was most striking in the 1-through 4-year-old age group and in black and Hispanic children, particularly in the Northeast. By 1988 in New York State, HIV/AIDS was the first and second leading cause of death in Hispanic and black children 1 through 4 years of age, accounting for 15% and 16%, respectively, of all deaths in these age-race groups. With an estimated 1500 to 2000 HIV-infected children born in 1989, the impact of HIV on mortality in children will become more severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is increasing rapidly in the ranks of the leading causes of death among children. It is already the ninth leading cause of death among children 1 to 4 years of age and the seventh in young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years. If current trends continue, AIDS can be expected to move into the top five leading causes of death in the pediatric and adolescent age group in the next 3 or 4 years. To address this problem and also to provide focus for the US Department of Health and Human Services activities dealing with pediatric AIDS, an intra-departmental work group was established as a central health and human services component. This was done to ensure the best possible use of federal resources on behalf of children and adolescents with AIDS. Its recommendations are the basic of this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. A study of the natural history of sickle hemoglobinopathies was begun in March 1979. By August 1987, a total of 2824 patients <20 years of age were enrolled. There have been 14 670 person-years of follow-up. Seventy-three deaths have occurred. Most of the deaths were in patients with hemoglobin SS. The peak incidence of death was between 1 and 3 years of age, and the major cause in these young patients was infection. Cerebrovascular accidents and traumatic events exceeded infections as a cause of death in patients >10 years of age. There was limited success in identifying risk factors for death. Comparison of this study's overall mortality of 2.6% (0.5 deaths per 100 person-years) with previous reports indicates improvement of survival in US patients <20 years of age with sickle hemoglobinopathies. This improvement is most likely due to parental education and counseling about the illness and the early institution of antibotics in suspected infections. Pediatrics 1989;84:500-508; sickle cell anemia, sickle hemoglobinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the factors contributing to infant and child mortality in the United States. Discussion on food supply and food prices; Results of a survey on child nutrition; Effect of poverty on children's health.

Discusses a study which described the rates of change in asthma mortality among children in the United States from 1968 to 1987. Information on the study population; Incidence of asthma mortality in the country; Correlation between age and asthma mortality; Conclusion.

Comments on a study conducted by R.A. Hoekelman and I.B. Pless on trends in child mortality in the United States (U.S.) in the 20th century. Decline in mortality of children; Causes of the decrease in mortality rates in the U.S.; Comparison between mortality rates in the U.S. and Japan.

Presents information on child mortality rates in the United States as of February 2, 1992.

Presents the first published mortality statistics of children under five years of age in the United States in 1842.

Focuses on the mortality rate of children in London, England under 5 years of age in the 1790s. Average births annually; Statistics on the mortality of children during the period.