From Insult to Injury: How Disputes Begin and Escalate among Adolescents and Young Adults in Medellin, Colombia

This article aims to contribute to the understanding of circumstances, causes of initiation, and process of escalation of physical disputes or fights resulting in physical injury. We analyzed data from a case-control study of perpetrators of violence between the ages of 15 to 24 (n=373) in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The findings show that 89% of conflicts resulting in injury took place in public places and most often involved males (78%). Six percent involved the consumption of alcohol, 20% reported having used illicit drugs before the initiation of the confrontation. Circa 50% of disputes began because of verbal aggression. Alcohol consumption was found to be associated with verbal aggression towards a friend or companion but not to other circumstances that start disputes. Drug use was not associated with the initiation of disputes. In 18.5% of the cases, a weapon was used while 5% of these disputes ended in a homicide. In none of the cases in which homicide was the outcome was there bystander intervention. In contrast, homicide did not result in the cases in which bystanders intervened

Violence witnessing, perpetrating and victimization in medellin, Colombia: a random population survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The burden of injury from violence and the costs attributable to violence are extremely high in Colombia. Despite a dramatic decline in homicides over the last ten years, homicide rate in Medellin, Colombia second largest city continues to rank among the highest of cities in Latin America. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and distribution of witnesses, victims and perpetrators of different forms of interpersonal violence in a representative sample of the general population in Medellin in 2007.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A face-to-face survey was carried out on a random selected, non-institutionalized population aged 12 to 60 years, with a response rate of 91% yielding 2,095 interview responses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present the rates of prevalence for having been a witness, victim, or perpetrator for different forms of violence standardized using the WHO truncated population pyramid to allow for cross-national comparison. We also present data on verbal aggression, fraud and deception, yelling and heavy pranks, unarmed aggression during last year, and armed threat, other severe threats, robbery, armed physical aggression, and sexual aggression during the lifetime, by age, sex, marital and socioeconomic status, and education. Men reported the highest prevalence of being victims, perpetrators and witnesses in all forms of violence, except for robbery and sexual violence. The number of victims per perpetrator was positively correlated with the severity of the type of violence. The highest victimization proportions over the previous twelve months occurred among minors. Perpetrators are typically young unmarried males from lower socio-economic strata.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Due to very low proportion of victimization report to authorities, periodic surveys should be included in systems for epidemiological monitoring of violence, not only of victimization but also for perpetrators. Victimization information allows quantifying the magnitude of different forms of violence, while data on factors associated with aggression and perpetrators are necessary to estimate risk and protective factors that are essential to sound policies for violence prevention formulation.</p

Domestic violence in Medellín and other municipalities of Aburrá Valley 2003-2004

Objective: To estimate the magnitude and distribution by sex of domestic or family violence (between partners, siblings, and from parents to children) in Medellin, Colombia and nine surrounding municipalities (Medellin metropolitan area), 2003-2004. Methods: Household survey to a representative multistage sample to non institutionalized population, within 12 and 60 years of age, in the urban area of each municipality. Results: Verbal or psychological aggression and victimization: 64% and 61%, physical violence without physical injury: 17% and 14%, physical violence with physical injury: 2% and 3% between intimate partners. Intimate partners’ aggression and victimization do no differentiate by sex. Verbal, psychological and physical aggression from parents toward children is 60%, and physical aggression with physical injury is near 10%. 55% of families reported fights among siblings, and 3% with physical injury. Medellin has the highest rates of family or domestic violence compared with the other municipalities of Aburra Valley. Domestic violence charge is very low (5-20%), and masculine victims rather prefer not to report. Conclusions: We suggest not to ground public policies on current statistics, but to establish a system of periodic surveys, representative of general population or families. It seems important to have two different types of interventions: domestic or family violence prevention considering family as a unit that interacts with the surrounding; and rehabilitation of chronic and severe domestic aggressors

La violencia doméstica en Medellín y demás municipios del Valle de Aburrá, 2003-2004

Objetivo: estimar la magnitud y distribución por sexo de la violencia doméstica (de pareja, de padres a hijos y entre hermanos) en Medellín y los otros nueve municipios del Valle de Aburrá en 2003-2004. Métodos: encuesta cara a cara en una muestra multietápica representativa de la población de 12 a 60 años, no institucionalizada, del área urbana de cada municipio. Resultados: en miembros de la pareja se encontró agresión y victimización verbal o sicológica (64 y 61%); física sin lesión (17 y 14%); física con lesión (2 y 3%). Se observan proporciones de agresión y victimización similares en hombres y en mujeres. La agresión verbal y física a hijos por sus padres es cercana a 60% y la que deja lesiones físicas es de 10%. En 55% de las familias hubo peleas entre hermanos y en 3%, secuelas de lesión física. En Medellín se presentan mayores proporciones de violencia doméstica que en los demás municipios agrupados. La proporción de no denuncia es muy alta (80 a 95%) y es significativamente mayor entre los hombres. Conclusiones: no es aconsejable fincar las políticas públicas y programas de prevención y control de la violencia doméstica en las estadísticas de las cuales dispone el Estado; se recomienda realizar encuestas periódicas en muestras poblacionales completas (hombres y mujeres). Se sugiere tener dos tipos de programas: unos de prevención de la violencia doméstica, considerando a la familia como una unidad total, y otros de rehabilitación de agresores crónicos y severos

Deviant behaviors associated with aggressors and resilient subjects. A case-control study in Medellin, Colombia. 2003–2005

Concurrent risky or deviant behaviors of serious offenders, resilient men and community controls were estimated through a case-control study carried out in Medellin, Colombia between 2003 and 2005. Methodology: Cases: serious offenders (n=62), men involved in violent quarrels or brawls (n=81), and members of Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia –Colombian paramilitary army– (AUC), also known as paramilitaries (n=72) were compared to resilient men (n=59) and community controls (n=103). All were interviewed face to face in their communities. Cases were interviewed at the site, day and hour agreed with the group leader. Controls and resilient men were referred by respected and trusted persons of the community and interviewed in their own communities in a place chosen by them. Results: Antecedents of overt and covert aggression, deviant behaviors and oppositional behaviors, and substance abuse was higher among AUC members (paramilitaries), serious offenders and men involved in quarrels than among community controls and resilient men. Resilient men report a smaller number of concurrent deviant and risky behaviors compared to community controls. AUC members (paramilitaries) are not different from serious offenders in their reports of concurrent risky and deviant behaviors

Aggressors and resilient youths in Medellin, Colombia: the need for a paradigm shift in order to overcome violence

The objective of this study was to estimate the ratio of resilient youth and compare this to youth with aggressive behavior, and to youth who also exhibit sexually risky behavior and drug use. A cross-section study of a representative sample of people between aged between 12 and 60 who are residents of Medellin, Colombia, and its metropolitan area (N = 4,654) was employed using probabilistic multi-stage sampling. Youth between 14 and 26 years old were selected for the present analysis (n = 1,780). The proportion of resilient youth is 22.9%, of aggressors is 11.3%, and that of youth with other risky conduct is 65.8%. The high ratio of resilient youth calls for a reorientation of public policy toward prevention and control of violence, prioritizing the promotion of resilient behavior instead of continuing with tertiary prevention actions

Magnitud y distribución de diferentes formas de violencia en Medellín, 2003-2004

Objetivo: estimar la magnitud y distribución del hecho de haber sido testigo, víctima o agresor de diferentes tipos de violencia. Métodos: estudio de corte en muestra representativa de la población (12–60 años) de Medellín. La información se recolectó por encuestas domiciliarias en 2003-2004. Resultados: los hombres reportan las mayores proporciones como víctimas, agresores y testigos por todas las formas de violencia, excepto agresor sin arma y víctima de desplazamiento forzado y de violencia sexual. El número de víctimas por agresor aumenta con la gravedad del tipo de violencia. Más de 75% ha sido testigo de amenazas graves y asalto armado, 46% de robo y 10% de violencia sexual. Cerca de 40% ha sido víctima de amenazas graves, robo y agresión armada; y 6%, de violencia sexual. La mayor victimización en los últimos doce meses se presentó en los menores de edad. El 10% de los menores de edad, 7% de 18 a 35 años han robado en sus vidas y 4% de 18 a 54 años agredieron con arma. Aproximadamente una cuarta parte percibe que en su barrio hay problemas de peleas entre vecinos o entre pandillas y robos. Se presenta la probabilidad de ser agresor, víctima y testigo en las 16 comunas urbanas de Medellín

Descentralización del sector salud en Colombia: análisis de 91 municipios

Objetivo: analizar la capacidad institucional y la participación comunitaria del sector salud de los municipios de los departamentos de Antioquia, Caldas y Risaralda, según su categoría socioeconómica. Métodos: se realizó una encuesta por correo a todos los municipios (164) de los departamentos de Antioquia, Caldas y Risaralda, de los cuales respondió el 56%. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los datos, análisis de componente principal y finalmente, análisis de correlaciones. Resultados: se encontró que el nivel de desarrollo institucional del sector salud de los municipios no está acorde con su categoría socio-económica; tampoco los municipios tienen un desarrollo integral de los diferentes aspectos de su capacidad institucional. Algunos municipios pequeños y con bajo nivel socioeconómico presentan desarrollos similares y aún mejores que municipios de mayor nivel socioeconómico

Radar-Observed Characteristics of Precipitation in the Tropical High Andes of Southern Peru and Bolivia

This study used the first detailed radar measurements of the vertical structure of precipitation obtained in the central Andes of southern Peru and Bolivia to investigate the diurnal cycle and vertical structure of precipitation and melting-layer heights in the tropical Andes. Vertically pointing 24.1-GHz Micro Rain Radars in Cusco, Peru (3350 m MSL, August 2014–February 2015), and La Paz, Bolivia (3440 m MSL, October 2015–February 2017), provided continuous 1-min profiles of reflectivity and Doppler velocity. The time–height data enabled the determination of precipitation timing, melting-layer heights, and the identification of convective and stratiform precipitation features. Rawinsonde data, hourly observations of meteorological variables, and satellite and reanalysis data provided additional insight into the characteristics of these precipitation events. The radar data revealed a diurnal cycle with frequent precipitation and higher rain rates in the afternoon and overnight. Short periods with strong convective cells occurred in several storms. Longer-duration events with stratiform precipitation structures were more common at night than in the afternoon. Backward air trajectories confirmed previous work indicating an Amazon basin origin of storm moisture. For the entire dataset, median melting-layer heights were above the altitude of nearby glacier termini approximately 17% of the time in Cusco and 30% of the time in La Paz, indicating that some precipitation was falling as rain rather than snow on nearby glacier surfaces. During the 2015–16 El Niño, almost half of storms in La Paz had melting layers above 5000 m MSL