Are Sharp Objects killing South African Youth? Trends and Patterns 2001-2016.

Violence is a significant characteristic of the South African society and contributes substantially to injuries and deaths. Youth are at a higher risk of death due to violence. Weapons used in committing violent crimes in South Africa have been reported to be mostly guns and sharp objects. This study draws on data from the vital registration system, for the period 2001-2016, to investigate the trends and patterns of deaths due to sharp objects among youth in South Africa. Frequency distributions and logistic regressions were used to describe and examine factors associated with youth mortality due to sharp objects. Age-specific death rates and age-adjusted standardized death rates were computed to show trends of youth sharp object deaths in South Africa. The study shows that there is an increase in sharp object deaths among youth in South Africa, rising from 1.9% in 2001 to 7.6% in 2016. The analysis suggests that male youth, especially those between the ages of 15-19 years, are at a greater risk of sharp object deaths. Two provinces in South Africa, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, are high risk provinces, but it is apparent that this form of violence affects the youth nationwide. It raises concerns about existing regulations with regards to the carrying of sharp objects especially among the youth. Easy access of these weapons and relaxed laws may be contributing towards this scourge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]