Firearm Homicide Mortality is Linked to Food Insecurity in Major US Metropolitan Cities.

BACKGROUND

Gun violence disproportionately affects metropolitan areas of the United States (US). There is limited information regarding the influence of social determinants of health, such as food insecurity (FI) on firearm homicide mortality (FHM) in major metropolitan cities in the US. We sought to examine the relationship between FI and FHM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional analysis examining the largest 51 US major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) using data from 2018. Demographic data, markers of social inequities, and firearm homicide data were obtained from the US Census Bureau, US Department of Education, and the Frey and Brookings Institute. Food insecurity prevalence was obtained from Feeding America. Spearman ρ and linear regression were performed.

RESULTS

Using Spearman rho analysis, higher FI (r = 0.55,

CONCLUSION

Food insecurity may influence FHM in major US metropolitan cities. Community- and hospital-based programs that target FI may help combat the gun violence epidemic and decrease gun violence.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.