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Violence is a serious public health problem that affects people in all stages of life. Violence is defined by the World Health Organization as, “The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.”

Using the public health approach, KIPRC researchers are committed to preventing intentional injuries (violence-related injuries) occurring in Kentucky. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funds several surveillance system projects which allow researchers to define and monitor the problem, identify risk factors that lead to violence and identify factors that protect communities, families and individuals from violence. With this understanding the most effective strategies can be implemented.

Associated Programs

  • Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System

    The Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System (KYVDRS) addresses the need for accurate surveillance and data analysis by combining data from death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, police reports, crime laboratory reports, toxicology reports, and child fatality review team reports.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are facilitating a national surveillance system titled the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to merge uniform violent death data from all states. In 2018, NVDRS expanded to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Kentucky was funded in 2004 and started to collect violent death data in 2005. For more information on the NVDRS, visit the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS).

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  • Kentucky Advancing Violence Epidemiology in Real Time (KY-AVERT)

    KY-AVERT is a surveillance system with the goal of increasing the timeliness and availability of morbidity data for all firearm injuries regardless of intent, violence-related injuries (including firearm, sexual, interpersonal, youth, intimate partner, intentional self-directed, child abuse, etc.), and mental health-related conditions.

    The KY-AVERT team works with local and statewide agencies, including but not limited to local health departments and community stakeholders, to disseminate the trends and patterns of violence-related and firearm injuries and mental health conditions to key partners for a timelier response to changes and create more targeted interventions.

    The KY-AVERT team utilizes several databases that lend insight to injury patterns in Kentucky including the data sets of emergency department visits, inpatient hospitalizations, death certificates, and emergency medical service.