Virginia

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 Virginia were mixed. Overall mortality among younger and older adolescents improved, as did homicide and suicide rates among older adolescents. However, the rates for overall mortality among young adults and overall motor vehicle crash mortality increased. Data were not available for other objectives.

Virginia overall mortality rates compared favorably to national rates. Homicide and suicide rates were similar to national rates. However, the Virginia rate of motor vehicle crash mortality was higher than the national rate.

Highlights of Findings by Objective

Jump To: Mortality; Unintentional Injury; Violence; Substance Use and Mental Health

Mortality

The rate of overall mortality in Virginia decreased from baseline for younger and older adolescents; mortality increased among young adults. Black males were a notable exception to this pattern: mortality increased substantially among Black older adolescent males and decreased somewhat among Black young adult males. In 2007, the rate of overall mortality for males was more than twice the rate for females for older adolescents and young adults. Blacks had higher rates than Whites.

Comparison with national data. As in Virginia, national mortality rates decreased for younger and older adolescents, and increased among young adults. Also similar to Virginia, rates among Black young adults decreased. In 2007, the rates of overall mortality for Virginia were lower than national rates across all three age groups. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns matched the patterns noted in Virginia.

Unintentional Injury

(motor vehicle crashes)

Adolescent mortality in Virginia due to motor vehicle crashes (MVC) increased from baseline, due mainly to an increase among Whites. The rate among Blacks decreased. In 2007, the rate of MVC mortality for males was nearly three times the rate for females. The rate for Whites was much higher than the rate for Blacks.

Comparison with national data. National adolescent MVC mortality was essentially flat overall in contrast with an increase in Virginia. In 2007, the overall rate of MVC mortality for Virginia was slightly higher than the national rate, overall and across most subgroups for whom data were available. The national gender and racial/ethnic patterns roughly matched the patterns noted for Virginia.

Violence

(homicide)

The rate of homicide mortality among older adolescents in Virginia decreased slightly from baseline as did the rate for males, including Black males in that age group. Data for other subgroups were based on fewer than 20 deaths and were thus unsuitable for analysis.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of homicide mortality for older adolescents was essentially flat from baseline, in contrast to a small decrease in Virginia. National rates for Black older adolescent males increased from baseline, in contrast to a decrease for that group in Virginia. In 2007, the overall national rate for older adolescents roughly matched the rate for that group in Virginia. The national rate for Black male older adolescents was somewhat lower than the national rate for that group.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

(suicide)

The overall rate of adolescent suicide mortality in Virginia decreased slightly from baseline among older adolescents overall, with larger decreases within that age group for males overall and White males. Data for other subgroups were based on fewer than 20 deaths and were thus unsuitable for analysis.

Comparison with national data. The national rate of suicide mortality among older adolescents was essentially flat from baseline, overall and for most subgroups. This is in slight contrast with decreases overall and across most subgroups in Virginia. In 2007, national rates for suicide roughly matched the rates in Virginia, both overall and among subgroups for which data were available.

Additional data may be available at: http://www.vahealth.org/childadolescenthealth/data.htm