A new study reveals alarming racial disparities in rising U.S. child mortality rates, with Black and Native American youth facing the greatest increases. Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University found that between 2014 and 2020, mortality rates rose 36.7% for Black youth and 22.3% for Native American youth, compared to just 4.7% for white youth.
The study, published in JAMA, analyzed over 20 years of CDC death certificate data for ages 1-19. Lead author Dr. Elizabeth Wolf noted, “While we saw that the overall pediatric all-cause mortality rate in the United States began to increase around 2020 and 2021, for Native American, Black and Hispanic populations, pediatric mortality rates began increasing as early as 2014.”
Injury-related deaths, including homicide, suicide, and gun violence, were major drivers of the disparities. Black youth faced homicide rates over 10 times higher than white youth, while Native American youth had suicide rates more than double those of white youth. Firearm fatalities increased dramatically, rising 108% for Black youth and 124% for Native American youth between 2013-2020.
The researchers linked these trends to systemic racism creating gaps in social, economic and environmental conditions. Dr. Steven Woolf emphasized, “Addressing these systemic factors is essential for mitigating the disproportionate risks of injury and disease experienced by children of color.”
The authors called for policy actions to reverse these trends, including gun safety measures and improved access to mental health services.
See “Study shows rising child mortality in the US has the most impact on Black and Native American youth” (May 6, 2024)
