Racial segregation and county level intentional injury in Pennsylvania: analysis of hospital discharge data for 1997-1999.

STUDY OBJECTIVE This study examined whether high levels of racial segregation are associated with high county level intentional injury rates. DESIGN Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between county racial segregation (measured by the Gini coefficient) and intentional injury rates. Multicollinearity was assessed with Eigenvalues and condition indices. SETTING State of Pennsylvania. PATIENTS County level intentional injury rates for 1995 to 1997 were calculated from hospital discharge data. MAIN RESULTS After controlling for other known county level risk factors, higher levels of racial segregation in a county were significantly related to higher intentional injury rates. Multicollinearity was not a problem. Population size and density, family stability and median income, together with the percentage male, unemployed, in poverty, divorced men, and high school graduates of the county were controlled. CONCLUSIONS Racial segregation is an important factor in the rate of intentional injury in a community. These results may be important for municipal and state agencies when developing public policies to prevent violence and promote racial integration.