Homicides, accidents lead causes of death for Mahoning youth

YOUNGSTOWN — The most deadly times in the lives of Mahoning County children in 2006 were their first month of existence, or between the ages of 15 and 17.

The primary cause of death in newborns was prematurity, and the main causes of death for youth ages 15 through 17 were homicides and motor vehicle accidents, according to a report issued by the Mahoning County Child Fatality Review Board.

In 2006, 31 children died in Mahoning County. Five were the victims of homicides and four were killed in motor vehicle crashes.

The review board was created in 2000 to track child deaths in the county, identify the causes and risk factors involved, and recommend ways to reduce the number of future deaths, said Matthew Stefanak, chairman of the child fatality board and Mahoning County health commissioner.

“We know that the deaths of many of these children were preventable. Our community has made great progress in reducing the number of infant deaths in the last several years,” said Stefanak, noting that child deaths declined slightly more than 50 percent between 2006 and 1992, when 65 children died in the county.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.