Understanding the uneven distribution of the incidence of homicide in Latin America
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Throughout the final years of the twentieth century and into the beginning of the twenty-first, violence has been one of the main public health issues in Latin America, a region which has some of the highest mortality rates due to violence in the world. However, there seems to be an uneven geographical distribution of such instances. METHODS: We reviewed epidemiological data on violence globally and in Latin America, and here, we discuss differences between the Latin American countries in the context of a sociological framework as well as from a public health perspective. RESULTS: Our results indicate marked differences by country in terms of rates of violence. Countries such as Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, have low violence mortality rates; Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Panama, and Paraguay have moderate rates, and Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras and Venezuela have high to extremely high mortality rates. Factors related to violence include social inequalities, lack of employment opportunities, urban segregation, a culture of masculinity, local drug markets, and the availability of firearms and widespread use of alcohol. CONCLUSION: The observed homicide variability between Latin American countries can be explained largely by differences in the countries' social contexts and political models. In those countries where homicide rates are extremely high, governments should review their current policies and take preventive actions. Fortunately increasingly nowadays there are promising advancements in that direction.
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UNODC and WHO report that homicide levels have remained high in the Americas and in Eastern and Southern Africa, and in some countries levels increased.
“UNODC and WHO report that this is particularly the case for the Americas and in Eastern and Southern Africa, where homicide levels have remained high, and in some countries levels increased.”
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- Authors
- Briceno-Leon, R., Villaveces, A., & Concha-Eastman, A.
- Affiliations
- Universidad Central de Venezuela (VE)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Americas (US)
- Corresponding author
- Briceno-Leon, R.
- Venue
- International Journal of Epidemiology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2008-07-23
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 751-757
- ISSN
- 0300-5771 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-3685
- OpenAlex
- W2103302101
- Cited by
- 145
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 17.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (R49-CCR402444)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Social Sciences › Health › Gun Ownership and Violence Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Keywords
- homicide, violence, Latin America, social inequality, masculinity, urban segregation, drug market, alcohol consumption, violence prevention, political models
- MeSH terms
- Alcohol Drinking, Culture, Developing Countries, Homicide, Humans, Latin America, Politics, Population Dynamics, Public Health, Social Class, Unemployment, Urbanization, Incidence, Substance-Related Disorders
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