Iowa is funded by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to collect data on violent deaths for the National Violent Death Reporting System. Using a variety of source records, the Iowa Violent Death Reporting System (IAVDRS) gathers information on cause of death and contributing circumstances, and enters it into a national database. Community partners and researchers can use the data to contribute to a better understanding of violent deaths and develop strategies to prevent them.
Iowa data collection started for deaths that occurred beginning in calendar year 2015. In 2015 data was collected from the seven most populous counties (Black Hawk, Johnson, Linn, Polk, Pottawattamie, Scott and Woodbury). Statewide data collection began in calendar year 2016. The department gathers reports from death certificates, medical examiner and law enforcement reports to identify circumstances that contribute to these types of violent deaths:
- Homicides
- Suicides
- Deaths resulting from law enforcement intervention
- Unintentional firearm injury deaths
- Deaths of undetermined intent
- Deaths resulting from terrorism
If you are interested in obtaining data from the program, please review this document:
Process for Requesting Data from IAVDRS 
Program Authority and Confidentiality
These sections of the Iowa Code provide IDPH the legal authority to run the IAVDRS program:
- Section 136.3 §2c – State Board of Health duties and responsibilities
- Section 135.11 §1 – Duties of the department of public health
- Section 135.40 – allows IDPH to collect data for purposes of reducing morbidity and mortality
IAVDRS Confidentiality Procedures
IAVDRS Advisory Committee
The program is guided by an advisory committee comprised of governmental and non-profit agencies and organizations. Meetings are held quarterly either virtually or in-person. If you are interested in attending a meeting of the IAVDRS Advisory Committee, please contact Nafla Poff at nafla.poff@idph.iowa.gov.
Educational Resources/Program Newsletters
- IAVDRS Program One Pager
- IAVDRS Program Brochure
- IAVDRS Reporting Tool to Use at the Scene of a Violent Death
- Law Enforcement Reporting Form
- Law Enforcement Data Elements
- Newsletters
Data Reports
- Suicide in Iowa, 2020 (PDF)
- Suicide in Iowa, 2015
- Suicide in Iowa, 2016
- Suicide in Iowa, 2017
- Suicide in Iowa, 2018
- 2016-2018 Suicide Circumstances
- Suicide in Iowa, 2019
- Homicides in Iowa, 2016-2020
Related links:
CDC - National Violent Death Reporting System webpage describes the national program and other funded states
CDC - Infographic about National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
CDC - WISQARS™ (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) is an online, interactive database that includes violent death data and is available to the public.