Las muertes violentas en Costa Rica y sus inequidades geográficas

Abstract

Abstract: This is an exploratory ecological study on violent deaths in Costa Rica, their\ngeographical inequities and social determinants. Proportional mortality associated with violent\ndeaths (traffic accidents, other accidents, suicides and homicides) was estimated focusing on age\ngroups and it was represented cartographically. Standardized risk of death was mapped; the\nspatial pattern of this indicator was found to be correlated with the human development index.\nThe 15-34 age group is the most affected by violent deaths, at those ages nearly one out of two\ndeaths is due to violent causes. Geographical areas with the highest risk of dying due to violent\ncauses are located in border and coastal areas and tend to have lower life expectancy. To the\nextent that the human development index decreases, the risk of dying from violence increases.