The mortality differentials by violence against adolescents according to living conditions strata and race/color in the city of Recife

Abstract

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.