Associations between county-level poverty and firearm injury health encounters in Maryland, USA

Key Points

• Firearm injury health encounters increase as county-level poverty rises, highlighting a critical public health concern.
• In counties with high poverty rates, there is a notable correlation with a 15% increase in firearm injuries compared to low-poverty areas.
• Observational analysis across Maryland identifies significant patterns linking socioeconomic factors to health outcomes.
• These findings imply a need for targeted interventions to reduce firearm injuries related to poverty, warranting further exploration.