Characteristics of childhood homicide in Ohio, 1974-84

Childhood homicide deaths in Ohio from 1974 to 1984 were examined using Ohio Vital Statistics records and US Census Data. Homicide rates varied from 25/100,000 for Black infant males to 0.8/100,000 for White femals ages 5-9. Child battering was the leading cause of death for children <5 years. Firearms accounted for 56 per cent of homicide deaths for children 10-14 years of age. The childhood homicide rates in the four largest Ohio cities were substantially higher in areas with low socioeconomic indicators.