Abstract
Using official data, this study analyzed violent deaths (homicide, suicide, events of undetermined intent and deaths due to legal intervention) in Brazil and Mexico in the three-year periods 2002-2004 and 2012-14, the impact of these causes of death on life expectancy in both countries and the role of the different age groups in years of life expectancy lost (YLEL). Abridged life tables were constructed for both countries for both periods. Temporary life expectancy and YLEL between zero and 80 years by selected causes and age groups were calculated for each triennium. The leading cause of YLEL among men was homicide in both periods in Brazil (1.5 years) and in the second period in Mexico (one year). Violent deaths (VD) accounted for around 16% of YLEL in Brazil and 13% in Mexico in 2012-2014. Among women, YLEL due to homicides and suicides showed the greatest relative increase in both countries, although VD accounted for barely 3% of total YLEL. The highest percentage of YLEL due to VDwas found among the 15 to 29 year age groups in both countries and for both sexes. The increase in rates of VD in Mexico, above all among young people, has curbed further increases in life expectancy in recent years, especially among men. Likewise, the high rates of VD in Brazil in both periods have hindered the growth of life expectancy.
Highlights
Since the last century, the World Health Organization (WHO)[1] has recognized that violence is a serious social problem, and one of the most pressing problems in the field of health and an overlooked epidemic that has become one of the main causes of morbidity and premature death
In light of the above, this study aims to determine the impact of mortality due to violence and other causes of death on life expectancy in Brazil and Mexico in the three-year periods 2002-2004 and 2012-2014 and the proportional impact of this cause on potential years of life lost across different age groups
In Brazil, violent deaths accounted for over 10% of total deaths among men and 2% among women in both periods, while in Mexico they accounted for 5.5% among men and 1.2% among women in the period 2002-2004 and 8.3% among men and 1.8% among women in the period 2012-2014
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO)[1] has recognized that violence is a serious social problem, and one of the most pressing problems in the field of health and an overlooked epidemic that has become one of the main causes of morbidity and premature death. Societies have developed an array of mechanisms, systems and institutions aimed at violence reduction and prevention with varying degrees of success[3]. Despite these efforts, millions of people around the world are victims of the psychological, physical, social, and economic impacts of violence annually, whether or not it leads to death
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