This chart presents data on major causes of death in Kentucky. Suicide and homicide were included because of their impact on families and communities. The causes of death selected for the chart are either preventable or the impact of the disease could be postponed if early detection extends the length and quality of life. The age groups selected were the young and middle-aged to emphasize the impact of preventable death on young persons.
Homicides are the twelfth leading cause in Kentucky.
However, homicides are of great concern to the public at large because homicide victims tend to be young. Mortality data were obtained from death certificates. An estimated 1992 population mid-point was used to carry out the calculation for mortality rates. 1992 population estimates were obtained from the Population Distribution and Population Estimate, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Age and sex proportions from the 1990 U.S. census were extrapolated to these 1992 estimates.