Child Gun Wounds More Common In Poor Neighborhoods

Key Takeaways

Children in poor neighborhoods are up to 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for a gunshot woundGun injuries among kids are more common in low-opportunity neighborhoodsMost of the injuries are unintentional

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Children living in poor neighborhoods are up to 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for a gunshot wound, a new study says.

These hospitalizations most often are the result of unintentional shootings, caused by mishandling or accidental discharge of a firearm, researchers added.

“Our study shows that where you and your family live is directly tied to your child’s odds of being injured or killed by a firearm,” senior researcher Dr. Anne Stey said in a news release. She’s an assistant professor of surgery at Northweste