MORTALITY BY HOMICIDE, THE FATAL CONSEQUE NCES OF VIOLENCE - THE CASEOF MEXICO, 1979-1992

A study of homicide in the population of Mexico, was undertaken for th e purpose of discovering the mortality panorama by this cause during 1 979-1992. Homicide mortality trends were analized, as well as the main causes by age and sex. Rate by cause and sex were also analized using a Poisson Regression model. The variables were: age, sex year externa l cause of intentional injuries ICD 9th. E960-E969. Results: The total number of deaths due to homicide was 198,485. Each day 35 persons die in Mexico as a result of homicide. Men were more affected than women with a RR of 10.1 and CI (95%)14.9-16.0, adjusted for age. The main ca use 56% was homicide by firearms and explosives. The high relative ris k was for those aged from 35 to 39 with an RR of 15.4 CI 14.9-16.0. To the cause assault by other and unspecified means, the elderly populat ion has a RR of 21.2 IC 19.7-22.9. Further research in the area and pr evention should make use of a multidisciplinary approach in considerin g the multiple causes and solutions to this problem.