Injury Deaths - Women in United States

United States

Experiencing injury or violence can have serious long-term impacts, including potential chronic illness or death. Injuries are the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of one and 44. In 2020-2022, the most common mechanisms for injury deaths among women were poisoning, motor vehicle traffic incidents and firearms. 

According to the World Health Organization, common risk factors that contribute to injury deaths include socioeconomic disparities, unemployment, unsafe housing and behaviors like alcohol or substance use. Poverty also increases the risk of both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Living in an impoverished environment can influence health behaviors, limit access to health care and heighten exposure to stress, violence and harmful social norms. 

Injury deaths are associated with significant costs from loss of life, medical expenses and other economic impacts. The cost of deaths due to injury among women in the United States was estimated at $607 billion in 2019.

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of deaths due to injury is higher among:

• Women ages 35-44 followed by those 25-34 compared with women ages 20-24.
• American Indian/Alaska Native, Black and white women compared with Asian women, who have the lowest prevalence. American Indian/Alaska Native women have a prevalence higher than all other groups and more than 12 times the rate of Asian women.

Addressing the leading causes of injury death can reduce the mortality rate among women in the U.S. Overdose Data to Action is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program that researches, analyzes and implements drug overdose prevention initiatives. Additionally, the Health Resources & Services Administration provides poisoning prevention tips for carbon monoxide, common household products, chemicals and medicines and more. 

At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Transportation has responded to the recent spike in traffic fatalities since 2020 by implementing the National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS). The NRSS aims to prevent avoidable motor vehicle crashes and enhance post-crash care to minimize harm in the event of an accident. At the state level, the CDC’s Core State Injury Prevention Program funds injury and violence prevention work and has so far partnered with 26 state health departments to successfully implement new safety standards, research initiatives, awareness campaigns and more. Individuals can learn more about staying safe on the road from the CDC as well. 

Reducing the firearm death rate requires a collaborative effort at the individual, community and policy levels. Households with firearms can improve gun safety by ensuring all guns inside the home are unloaded and securely locked away, with all lock combinations, codes and storage keys kept hidden. However, removing all guns from the home is the best way to ensure children’s safety. At the state level, policy recommendations may include strengthening firearms legislation, particularly background checks and permit laws. 

Improving access to mental health resources can help prevent suicide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support for people in distress 24/7, everywhere in the U.S. Additional forms of crisis support are available on their website, and the previous National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (1-800-273-8255) is still active. 

Healthy People 2030 has the following goals related to injury deaths:

• Reducing fatal injuries.
• Reducing unintentional injury deaths.
• Reducing overdose deaths involving opioids. 
• Reducing deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
• Reducing firearm-related deaths. 

Karb, Rebecca A., S. V. Subramanian, and Eric W. Fleegler. “County Poverty Concentration and Disparities in Unintentional Injury Deaths: A Fourteen-Year Analysis of 1.6 Million U.S. Fatalities.” PLoS ONE 11, no. 5 (2016): e0153516. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153516.

Lee, Lois K., Eric W. Fleegler, Caitlin Farrell, Elorm Avakame, Saranya Srinivasan, David Hemenway, and Michael C. Monuteaux. “Firearm Laws and Firearm Homicides: A Systematic Review.” JAMA Internal Medicine 177, no. 1 (January 1, 2017): 106. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7051.

Peterson, Cora, Gabrielle F. Miller, Sarah Beth L. Barnett, and Curtis Florence. “Economic Cost of Injury — United States, 2019.” MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 70, no. 48 (December 3, 2021): 1655–59. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7048a1.