Citation

Kaba F, Diamond P, Haque A, Macdonald R, Venters H. J. Adolesc. Health 2014; 54(5): 615-617.

Affiliation

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York. Electronic address: Hventer1@health.nyc.gov.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.12.013

PMID

24529834

Abstract

PURPOSE: Relatively little is known about the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among adolescents who come into contact with the criminal justice system. METHODS: We undertook screening for TBI among newly admitted adolescents in the New York City jail system using a validated TBI screening tool. A convenience sample of 300 male and 84 female screenings was examined. RESULTS: Screening revealed that 50% of male and 49% of female adolescents enter jail with a history of TBI. Incidence of TBI was assessed using patient health records, and revealed an incidence of 3,107 TBI per 100,000 person-years. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated prevalence and incidence of TBI among incarcerated adolescents may relate to criminal justice involvement as well as friction in jail. Given the large representation of violence as a cause of TBI among our patients, we have begun focus groups with them to elicit meaningful strategies for living with and avoiding TBI.

Language: en