Factors related to self-reported violent and accidental injuries

The main objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of factors that distinguish violent and accidental injuries. A secondary analysis was conducted on data from a randomized telephone survey of 10 385 Canadian residents. Three groups were compared using chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses: respondents who reported no injuries in the previous year, those with at least one accidental injury and those with at least one violent injury. In the bivariate analyses, the violent injury group was significantly more likely than the accidental injury and non-injury groups to be single, widowed, separated or divorced, have more than five drinks on a usual drinking occasion, experience harmful effects of alcohol and to have used illicit drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, and licit drugs, such as antidepressants and sleeping pills. Finally, the violent injury group was significantly more likely than those with non-violent injuries to report that the incident was related to either their own or someone else's alcohol or drug use. In the final multiple logistic regression analysis, variables significantly associated with injuries due to criminal victimizations compared with accidental injuries were being female, single, cocaine use of the injured and substance use of someone else during the injury.