Black-white differences in injury. Race or social class?

In the United States injuries are the leading cause of years of potential life lost and the leading cause of death for persons less than 45 years of age. Minority groups, particularly African-Americans, are disproportionately represented among those persons who die as a result of injury. Homicides account for much of this racial disparity; however, other forms of injury also contribute significantly to the differential. This paper examines death rates due to four types of injuries that contribute most to the black/white mortality gap. Our examination of death rates from 1984 to 1988 reveals no major reduction in the racial gap during the period, despite the initiation of some prevention efforts. We suggest that socioeconomic status rather than race is perhaps the major correlate of the social conditions and lifestyle choices which contribute to these injuries. We propose that injury prevention efforts must target both the causes and the consequences of socioeconomic inequality.