LONDON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Living in U.S. counties with high poverty rates might face a higher risk of firearm-related deaths among children and young adults, according to a study carried by Britain's News Medical website.
"Notably, children and young adults living in these counties accounted for 22 percent of all firearm deaths, 25.5 percent of firearm homicides, 15.3 percent of firearm suicides, and 25.1 percent unintentional firearm deaths in the U.S. during this period," said the study originally published in the U.S. medical journal JAMA Pediatrics.
The study analyzed national public data of firearm-related deaths among Americans aged 5-24 from January 2007 through December 2016, and found that firearm-related deaths occurred more often in U.S. counties with rates of high poverty.
"Additionally, non-Hispanic Black youth accounted for 44.8 percent of all firearm deaths and 63.9 percent of firearm homicides," it said.
The findings called for more policymaking efforts to reduce child poverty and strengthen firearm regulation, while stressing the need to best support survivors of firearm violence, according to Jennifer Hoffmann, co-author of the study.
