Childhood injury deaths in Texas: a major public health problem.

Injury is the leading cause of death in children 1 year of age and older in the United States, yet there has been little published on causes of injury deaths in Texas children. Cause-of-death information about children 0 through 19 years who were residents of Texas and died from 1980 through 1985 were examined. Injury accounted for nearly 34% of all childhood deaths from 1980 through 1985. Forty-six percent of injury deaths involved motor vehicles, and 22% were classified as intentional (bomicide and suicide). The leading causes of injury death varied by age group, but motor-vehicle injuries were the leading cause of injury deaths in all age groups 1 year of age and older. In addition, these data demonstrated the need for intervention in drowning deaths in every age group, choking deaths in infants, suicides in Anglos (especially teenagers), and homicides in infants, teenagers, and blacks. We must continue to support research and intervention strategies to combat this alarming public health problem.