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PHOM Indicator Profile Report of Unintentional Injury Deaths

Why Is This Important?

In Utah, unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death and disability. They accounted for 1,462 deaths in 2020. In addition, thousands of other injuries are being treated in hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics, emergency departments, homes, schools, and work sites. In 2020, the leading causes of unintentional injury death for all ages in Utah were poisoning, falls, motor vehicle traffic crashes, drowning/submersion, and suffocation. Most injuries can be prevented by choosing safe behaviors, using safety equipment, and obeying safety laws. High-priority prevention areas include: poisoning, fall-related injury, motor vehicle crash injury, suffocation, pedestrian injury, and drowning/submersion.

Unintentional Injury Death Leading Causes, Utah, 2001-2020

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Twenty years ago the leading causes of unintentional injury death were motor vehicle traffic deaths and fall deaths. Motor vehicle traffic death rates have declined over the last 20 years while fall death rates have increased. Unintentional poisoning death rates have skyrocketed to be the leading cause of unintentional injury death in Utah.

Data Sources

  • Utah Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health
  • Population Estimates: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) through a collaborative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau, IBIS Version 2018

Data Notes

ICD-10 codes V01-X59, Y85-Y86. Does not include legal intervention. Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

How Are We Doing?

The Utah annual age-adjusted rate of unintentional injury deaths has been on a slow upward trajectory since 2006 when the rate was 30.1 per 100,000 population. In 2020, the rate was 49.4 per 100,000 population. The 2020 unintentional injury death rate increased 17% in the last 10 years from the 2011 rate of 42.1 per 100,000 population. Twenty years ago in 2001 the leading causes of unintentional injury death were motor vehicle traffic deaths and fall deaths. Motor vehicle traffic death rates have declined over the last 20 years while fall death rates have increased. Unintentional poisoning death rates have skyrocketed to be the leading cause of unintentional injury death in Utah.

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) is working with several agencies, such as the Utah Department of Public Safety, Primary Children's Medical Center, and the 13 local health departments to further reduce unintentional injury deaths. Most injuries can be prevented by choosing safe behaviors, using safety equipment, and obeying safety laws. High-priority prevention areas include poisonings, motor vehicle crash injury, and fall-related injury.

Healthy People Objective: Reduce unintentional injury deaths

U.S. Target: 36.4 deaths per 100,000 population
State Target: 29.4 deaths per 100,000 population

Date Indicator Content Last Updated: 10/27/2021


Other Views

The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 5:02:21 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Thu, 10 Nov 2022 17:41:13 MST