Trends and impact of mortality from violent causes of death in Colombia and Mexico, 2000-2013

Abstract

Given that violence is a public health problem of the first order in Mexico and Colombia, the main objective of this research was the trend, level and impact analysis of mortality due to violence [homicides, suicides, traffic accidents (TA) and other accidents (OA)] between 2000 and 2013, nationally by sex and age groups. Mortality vital statistics from official sources were used. The years of life lost (YLL) between 0 and 100 years of age and the contribution of deaths by violent causes to life expectancy at birth (e 0 ) change were calculated. In Colombia an important decrease of mortality due to violence was observed since 2002 in all the selected causes of death and both sexes. In Mexico, there was not a meaningful increase of mortality due to all violent causes together; by causes of death, the observed decrease of mortality due to TA and OA was cancelled by the sustained increase of mortality by suicides and the increase of homicides since 2008. From 2011 to 2013, Mexico presented a higher number of YLL than Colombia due to violent causes of death that further illustrates the opposite trends in both countries. Mortality due to violence can be prevented by implementing programs and strategies that take into account the ages where it has a biggest impact, from a gender perspective and with a multidisciplinary approach.