Pediatric Firearm Injury-Related Emergency Department Visits in Florida: A Regional Analysis by Age Group and Insurance Status.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze pediatric firearm-related emergency department visits in Florida. We stratified the data by region, age group, and insurance status to identify demographic and geographic disparities and inform targeted public health interventions.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration for the years 2013 to 2018, focusing on ambulatory emergency department (ED) visits involving patients aged 19 years or younger with a principal diagnosis of firearm-related injury. These cases were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification, diagnostic codes. Florida was divided into 11 geographic regions based on the patient's county of residence. Pediatric firearm injury visit rates were calculated per 10,000 population. The total number of ED visits for firearm-related injuries among pediatric patients from 2013 through 2018 was summed and divided by regional population estimates obtained from the Florida Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set for the corresponding years. To assess statistically significant differences across regions and age groups, we employed the chi-square (χ²) test, considering a p value of ≤0.05 as statistically significant. Additionally, we examined the percentage distribution of pediatric firearm injuries by insurance status, categorized as Medicaid, self-pay, private insurance, other, and uninsured.

RESULTS

The highest rates of firearm-related injuries were observed among older children aged 15-19 years and among uninsured patients. Statistically significant differences in injury rates were identified across all geographic regions when stratified by age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reinforces existing evidence that older children and uninsured older children are disproportionately affected by firearm injuries. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions and further research focused on high-risk pediatric populations.