Violence in Jamaica: an analysis of homicides 1998–2002

The aim of the study was to create a profile of Jamaican homicide victims and to describe the circumstances, motives, and the weapons used in homicide incidents. The authors read the police narratives for all Jamaican homicides 1998–2002 and coded them using a predetermined set of variables. Analyses were conducted to describe victim characteristics, motive, and weapon use. The majority of homicide victims were male (over 89%), and 15–44 years old (80%). The rate of homicide for males age 15–44 years was 121 per 100 000 compared with a rate of 12 per 100 000 for females in the same age group. The main motives for homicide were disputes (29%) and reprisals (30%). Gunshot wounds were the cause of death in 66% of all homicides. Guns were used primarily in reprisals, robbery, and drug/gang related homicides; in half of all dispute related homicides the perpetrator used a knife. Homicides in Jamaica are not primarily gang or robbery related. Rather, they are mainly caused by arguments or reprisals. Homicide has become a common feature of dispute resolution in Jamaica

Diferenciais da mortalidade por violência contra adolescentes segundo estrato de condição de vida e raça/cor na cidade do Recife The mortality differentials by violence against adolescents according to living conditions strata and race/color in the city of Recife

Um estudo ecológico foi conduzido com o objetivo de analisar os diferenciais da mortalidade por violência contra adolescentes segundo estrato de condição de vida e raça/cor, no Recife, no período de 1998 a 2004. O coeficiente médio de mortalidade por violência para o período foi calculado para o município e para os estratos de condição de vida. Os dados relativos à violência foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade. Para a raça/cor, foram calculadas proporções e considerado o período de 1999 a 2004. A taxa de mortalidade por mortes violentas contra adolescentes para o município foi de 88,24 por 100 mil adolescentes, sendo 46,93 no estrato I, de "melhor condição de vida", e 95,00 no estrato III, de "pior condição de vida". Dentre as mortes violentas, 92,45% acometeram adolescentes pretos e 7,55%, adolescentes brancos. Os resultados demonstram desigualdades na mortalidade por violência revelando um trágico panorama na trajetória de vida dos adolescentes.<br>An ecological study was conducted in order to analyze the differences in mortality by violence against adolescents according to living conditions strata and race/color in Recife in the period from 1998 to 2004. The average mortality coefficient for violence during this period was calculated for the city and by living conditions strata. The data related to the violence were obtained from the System of Information on Mortality. For the race/color, proportions have been calculated and within the period of 1999 to 2004. The mortality rate for violent deaths against adolescents for the city was of 88.24 per 100 thousand adolescents, being 46.93 in stratum I, of "better living condition", and 95.00 in stratum III, of "worse condition of life". Amongst the violent deaths, 92.45% reached black adolescents and 7.55% white ones. The results show up inequalities in mortality by violence disclosing a tragic panorama in the trajectory of life of the adolescents