Injury
Injury is a serious public health problem in Alaska claiming 354 lives in 2013. Unintentional injuries, which include transportation injuries, unintentional poisoning, falls, were the third leading cause of death in Alaska, surpassed only by malignant neoplasms and diseases of the heart.1
1. Top 10 Leading Causes of Death for Alaska, downloaded 1/5/2016.
- Mortality statistics alone are only a tip of the iceberg. Alaska hospitals reported numerous injury-related hospital admissions.
- Injuries impact heavily on the use of health services in the state and contribute to major funding pressures.
- Although injury affects all groups of people, certain behavioral risk factors are closely linked to injury morbidity and mortality. For example, the lack of seatbelt use and alcohol use has been closely linked to transportation injuries.
Data from the Alaska's Bureau of Vital Statistics (ABVS) showed that2:
Data from the Alaska's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2014:
According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 20153:
- Unintentional injuries accounted for 52.4 deaths per 100,000 in Alaska in 2013.
- 226 (10.5 per 100,000) Alaskans died from motor vehicle traffic injuries.
Data from the Alaska's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2014:
- 16.1% of Alaskans ages 18 and over did not always wear a seatbelt. Men (19.6%) were less likely than women (12.2%) to always wear a seatbelt.
According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 20153:
- 5.6% of high school students had never or rarely wore a seat belt when riding in a car driven by someone else. Male students (10.2%) were more likely than female students (8.5%) to say that never or rarely wore seatbelts. Alaska Native students (18.2%) were also least likely to wear seatbelts than other race/ethnic groups.
- Approximately 9.3% of high school students (grade 9-12) stated that they had driven a car or other vehicle when they had been drinking alcohol one of more times during the past 30 days.
- 14.3% of high school students had ridden in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol one or more times during the past 30 days.
2. Detailed Causes of Death for Alaska, 2011-2013, downloaded 1/5/2016.
3. 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results Alaska (Recoded Race) High School Survey Summary Tables - Weighted Data, downloaded 1/5/2016.
Although injuries affect all groups, greater risks for certain types of injuries are determined by age group, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geography.
Structural changes, such as improved roads and better lighting in the medians and improved safety in automobiles have successfully contributed to reducing motor vehicle rates. Research has also behavioral risk reduction, including the enforcement of seatbelts use and blood alcohol limits have had a tremendous impact on reducing transportation related injuries.
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services tracks national and state numbers of behavioral injuries through:
- Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Alaska Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey (CUBS)
- Alaska Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Alaska Firearm Injury Reporting Surveillance System (AKFIRSS)
- Alaska Occupational Disease and Injury Surveillance System (AKODISS)
- Alaska Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
- Alaska Trauma Registry
- Alaska Violent Death Reporting System (AKVDRS)
- Alaska Vital Records
- Health Facilities Data Reporting (HFDR)
- Syndromic Surveillance
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
Safety
- Drinking and Driving
- Drove a motor vehicle after binge drinking
- Fell within past 3 months - 45+
- Firearms safety
- Seatbelt use - always
YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) - Local Survey Examples
Safety
- Seat Belt Use Never
- Rode With Driver Who Had Been Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Drove When Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Drove While Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Texted or E-mailed While Driving in Past Month
Sexual Violence
- Among students who dated - physically forced to do sexual things by someone they dated in past year
- Ever physically forced to have sexual intercourse
Suicide
- Actually Attempted Suicide in Past Year
- Attempted Suicide That Resulted in a Need For Medical Treatment
Violence
- In a Physical Fight in Past Year
- Among Students Who Dated - Ever Physically Hurt by Someone They Dated in Past Year
YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) - Statewide Survey Examples
Safety
- Seat Belt Use Never
- Rode With Driver Who Had Been Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Drove When Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Drove While Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Texted or E-mailed While Driving in Past Month
Sexual Violence
- Among students who dated - physically forced to do sexual things by someone they dated in past year
- Ever physically forced to have sexual intercourse
Suicide
- Actually Attempted Suicide in Past Year
- Attempted Suicide That Resulted in a Need For Medical Treatment