Iowa

Please be sure to read the data notes & limitations page. This explains many aspects of these comments, including how only changes over time can be discussed as statistically significant, and why the comparisons with national rates discuss data for selected subgroups.

Overview of Findings

Findings for Iowa were limited to a few objectives and were largely positive. Overall mortality among younger adolescents and young adults decreased, as did mortality due to motor vehicle crashes. The suicide rate remained flat, while overall mortality increased among older adolescents.

Final Iowa rates compared favorably to national rates of overall mortality for older adolescents and young adults. Iowa and national rates were similar for overall mortality for younger adolescents and mortality due to motor vehicle crashes. However, Iowa’s suicide rate was higher than the national rate.

Highlights of Findings by objective

Jump To: Mortality; Unintentional Injury; Violence; Substance Use and Mental Health; Reproductive Health; Chronic Disease Prevention

Mortality

The rate of overall mortality in Iowa decreased slightly from baseline among younger adolescents and young adults, with sizable decreases among young adult males and females. Among older adolescents the rate increased among both males and females.

In 2007, rates for males were much higher than rates for females.

Comparison with national data. As in Iowa, rates decreased among younger adolescents. However, a national decrease among older adolescents and increase among young adults stands in contrast to changes in Iowa. In 2007, Iowa rates for older adolescents and young adults were lower than national rates; the rate for younger adolescents roughly matched the national rate. As in Iowa, males had much higher rates than females nationally.

Unintentional Injury

(motor vehicle crashes)

Adolescent mortality in Iowa due to motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) decreased from baseline, overall and for the few subgroups with available data. In 2007, males had a higher rate than females.

Comparison with national data. National MVC mortality was flat from baseline, in contrast to the decrease in Iowa. In 2007, the Iowa MVC mortality rate roughly matched the national rate. As in Iowa, males had a higher rate than females nationally.

Violence

(homicide)

Homicide rates were based on fewer than 20 deaths and thus were unsuitable for analyses.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

(suicide)

The rate of suicide was essentially flat from baseline among older adolescents in Iowa.  Other rates were based on fewer than 20 deaths; thus rates were unsuitable for analyses.

Comparison with national data. National suicide rates were also essentially flat from baseline. In 2007, the Iowa suicide rate was slightly higher than the national rate.

Reproductive Health

(no data)

Chronic Disease Prevention

(no data)

Additional data may be available at: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/apl/health_statistics.asp