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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2016 May 1;107(3):e239–e244. doi: 10.17269/CJPH.107.5391

Homicide mortality rates in Canada, 2000–2009: Youth at increased risk

C Andrew Basham 15,✉, Carolyn Snider 25,35
PMCID: PMC6972158  PMID: 27763837

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To estimate and compare Canadian homicide mortality rates (HMRs) and trends in HMRs across age groups, with a focus on trends for youth.

METHODS: Data for the period of 2000 to 2009 were collected from Statistics Canada’s CANSIM (Canadian Statistical Information Management) Table 102-0540 with the following ICD-10-CA coded external causes of death: X85 to Y09 (assault) and Y87.1 (sequelae of assault). Annual population counts from 2000 to 2009 were obtained from Statistics Canada’s CANSIM Table 051-0001. Both death and population counts were organized into five-year age groups. A random effects negative binomial regression analysis was conducted to estimate age group-specific rates, rate ratios, and trends in homicide mortality.

RESULTS: There were 9,878 homicide deaths in Canada during the study period. The increase in the overall homicide mortality rate (HMR) of 0.3% per year was not statistically significant (95% CI: −1.1% to +1.8%). Canadians aged 15–19 years and 20–24 years had the highest HMRs during the study period, and experienced statistically significant annual increases in their HMRs of 3% and 4% respectively (p < 0.05). A general, though not statistically significant, decrease in the HMR was observed for all age groups 50+ years. A fixed effects negative binomial regression model showed that the HMR for males was higher than for females over the study period [RRfemale/male = 0.473 (95% CI: 0.361, 0.621)], but no significant difference in sex-specific trends in the HMR was found.

CONCLUSION: An increasing risk of homicide mortality was identified among Canadian youth, ages 15–24, over the 10-year study period. Research that seeks to understand the reasons for the increased homicide risk facing Canada’s youth, and public policy responses to reduce this risk, are warranted.

Key Words: Homicide, Canada, violence, adolescent

Footnotes

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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