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ForwardWMJ Vol 120 Supplement 1: Homicide: A Leading Cause of Death for Black Non-Hispanics in Wisconsin
ABSTRACT
Importance: Wisconsin has the second-highest Black homicide rate in the country, reporting a rate of 37.57 deaths per 100,000 Black non-Hispanic Wisconsinites. Meanwhile, White non-Hispanics experience a homicide rate of 2.0 deaths per 100,000.
Objective: This data identifies a public health disparity that deserves further investigation. This study seeks to detail the mortality rate of all-cause homicide, firearm-related homicide, non-firearm-related homicide, and legal intervention firearm-related homicide; leading causes of death; average age of death; and years of potential life lost (YPLL) between White non-Hispanics and Black non-Hispanics in Wisconsin during 2000-2017.
Design: Wisconsin homicide rates, ranked leading causes of death, and average age of death were obtained through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services via the Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH) Query System. National data were obtained through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). Homicide rates, ranked leading causes of death, average age of death, and YPLL were compared by mechanism of injury, county of residence, and race and ethnicity.
Participants and Exposures: The entire population of Black non-Hispanic Americans and White non-Hispanic Americans during 2000-2017 was included. For comparison, this was narrowed to the population of Black non-Hispanic Wisconsinites and White non-Hispanic Wisconsinites during 2000-2017. Exposure groups include all homicide victims during 2000-2017.
Main Outcomes and Measures: We hypothesized that Black non-Hispanic Wisconsinites would have a significantly worse burden of disease compared to White non-Hispanic Wisconsinites, as well as Black non-Hispanic Americans.
Results: This study found that firearm-related homicide rates for Black non-Hispanics compared to White non-Hispanics were 14.6 times greater in Milwaukee, 29.9 times greater in Wisconsin, and 13.0 times greater in urban counties of the United States. Firearm-related homicide is the second-leading cause of death for Black non-Hispanics in Milwaukee and the fourth-leading cause of death in Wisconsin. YPLL per person for Black non-Hispanic victims of firearm-related homicide are 36.83 years in Milwaukee and 37.04 years in Wisconsin.
Conclusion and Relevance: Our findings strongly suggest that Black non-Hispanic Wisconsinites endure a significantly worse burden of firearm-related homicide compared to White non-Hispanic Wisconsinites and Black non-Hispanic Americans. This study demonstrates a significant disparity in firearm-related homicide that should inspire policy discussion.
Intended Audience
The target audience for this journal-based activity is healthcare providers caring for the people and communities of Wisconsin and beyond.
Learning Objectives
As a result of this journal-based activity, the healthcare team will be able to:
- Explain the extent to which racial disparities impact homicide victims in Wisconsin.
- Summarize the burden of disease and years of potential life lost in firearm-related homicide.
- Identify the impact of the racial disparity of firearm-related deaths during legal intervention in Wisconsin.
FACULTY DISCLOSURE
It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) to identify, mitigate and disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* held by the speakers/presenters, authors, planners, and other persons who may influence content of this accredited continuing education (CE). In addition, speakers, presenters and authors must disclose any planned discussion of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentation.
For this accredited continuing education activity all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated and detailed disclosures are listed below.
| Name of Individual | Individual's Role in Activity | Name of Commercial Interest & | Discussion of |
| Terese Bailey, BS | Accreditation Specialist | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
| Zachary Dunton, BS | Author | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
| David Dwyer, PhD, RN, NE-BC | Reviewer | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
| Ronald Gangnon, PhD | Reviewer | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
| Stephen Hargarten, MD, MPH | Author | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Sarah Kohlbeck, MPH | Author | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Fauzia Osman, MPH | Author | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
| Elaine M. Pelley, MD | Reviewer | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
| Elizabeth M. Petty, MD | Reviewer | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Robert Treat, PhD | Editor | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on, patients.
The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical services directly to patients to be commercial interests.
Accreditation
Accreditation Statement
 | In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP and the Wisconsin Medical Journal. The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. |
Credit Designation Statements
American Medical Association (AMA)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this journal-based CE activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Education Units
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP, as a member of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), authorizes this program for 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs) or 1 hour.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.00 University of Wisconsin–Madison Continuing Education Hours
- 1.00 Approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
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