Abstract We report the results of a retrospective, descriptive, qualitative study of suicide among university students in Bogotá, Colombia. The objective of this study was to document the magnitude, principal characteristics, and impact of this phenomenon in the selected population. A semi-structured survey was employed to collect information from 66 individuals linked to the universities. A total of 45 cases of suicide were documented in the study period (2004 – 2014). Of these, 69% occurred in males and 31% in females. The age range was 17 – 27 years, with 62% of the cases in the 19 – 22 year-old group. The most common mechanisms employed were suffocation and poisoning, followed by intentional falls, use of a firearm, and drug overdose. The selected location was the place of residence in 52% of cases and the university campus in 16% of cases. The distribution of students by area of knowledge showed a predominance of social and human science (44%) followed by engineering (22%). A history of difficulties in family and affective relationships was common among victims, as was a history of exposure to intolerance of differences in sexual orientation. The individuals surveyed expressed a wide range of interpretations of the significance of suicide, both positive (courage, self-affirmation, autonomy) and negative (defeat, despair, and an inability to adapt).

Resumen Estudio cualitativo, exploratorio, descriptivo y retrospectivo en cinco universidades de Bogotá, Colombia, para conocer la magnitud, las principales características y significados y el impacto del suicidio de estudiantes universitarios. Se realizaron 66 entrevistas semiestructuradas a personal institucional. Se identificaron 45 casos de suicidio consumado en el período 2004 - 2014. El 69% de los casos fueron hombres y el 31% mujeres. El rango de edad estuvo entre 17 y 27 años; 62% entre 19 y 22 años. Las formas más frecuentes de cometer el suicidio fueron el ahorcamiento y el envenenamiento, seguidos del lanzamiento al vacío, el uso de armas de fuego y el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. El 52% de los casos eligió el lugar de residencia para cometer el hecho; el 16% eligió el campus universitario. Áreas de conocimiento: el 44% pertenecía a ciencias sociales y humanas y el 22% a ingenierías. Motivos y procesos desencadenantes del suicidio identificados, el principal grupo se relaciona con lo familiar, en especial desintegración familiar, ruptura de relaciones de pareja e intolerancia a opciones sexuales diferentes. Los entrevistados expresaron diversos significados del suicidio, tanto positivos: acto de valor y ejercicio de la autonomía, como negativos: impotencia, desadaptación y derrota.

Abstract We report the results of a retrospective, descriptive, qualitative study of suicide among university students in Bogotá, Colombia. The objective of this study was to document the magnitude, principal characteristics, and impact of this phenomenon in the selected population. A semi-structured survey was employed to collect information from 66 individuals linked to the universities. A total of 45 cases of suicide were documented in the study period (2004 – 2014). Of these, 69% occurred in males and 31% in females. The age range was 17 – 27 years, with 62% of the cases in the 19 – 22 year-old group. The most common mechanisms employed were suffocation and poisoning, followed by intentional falls, use of a firearm, and drug overdose. The selected location was the place of residence in 52% of cases and the university campus in 16% of cases. The distribution of students by area of knowledge showed a predominance of social and human science (44%) followed by engineering (22%). A history of difficulties in family and affective relationships was common among victims, as was a history of exposure to intolerance of differences in sexual orientation. The individuals surveyed expressed a wide range of interpretations of the significance of suicide, both positive (courage, self-affirmation, autonomy) and negative (defeat, despair, and an inability to adapt).

Resumen Estudio cualitativo, exploratorio, descriptivo y retrospectivo en cinco universidades de Bogotá, Colombia, para conocer la magnitud, las principales características y significados y el impacto del suicidio de estudiantes universitarios. Se realizaron 66 entrevistas semiestructuradas a personal institucional. Se identificaron 45 casos de suicidio consumado en el período 2004 - 2014. El 69% de los casos fueron hombres y el 31% mujeres. El rango de edad estuvo entre 17 y 27 años; 62% entre 19 y 22 años. Las formas más frecuentes de cometer el suicidio fueron el ahorcamiento y el envenenamiento, seguidos del lanzamiento al vacío, el uso de armas de fuego y el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas. El 52% de los casos eligió el lugar de residencia para cometer el hecho; el 16% eligió el campus universitario. Áreas de conocimiento: el 44% pertenecía a ciencias sociales y humanas y el 22% a ingenierías. Motivos y procesos desencadenantes del suicidio identificados, el principal grupo se relaciona con lo familiar, en especial desintegración familiar, ruptura de relaciones de pareja e intolerancia a opciones sexuales diferentes. Los entrevistados expresaron diversos significados del suicidio, tanto positivos: acto de valor y ejercicio de la autonomía, como negativos: impotencia, desadaptación y derrota.

The article presents some reflections on the provisions and values underlying the real Social Security System for Health in Colombia on the basis of five significant events. The first one is the enrichment of health promoting entities which do not give priority to the human wellbeing and devote themselves to financial and managing affairs. The second one, disclosed in 2011, is the alliance between the companies in charge of the medical care of the population and of administering the resources to finance this activity, in order to increase the charges and the profits as well. On the other hand, the dismantling of pediatric beds since it is bad business; in this regard, recent data reported that there are just 6 highly complex beds per each 10 000 children. Another event is the deregulation of drug prices authorized by the present model, which affects the purchasing possibilities of the more neglected population. Finally, the most striking event, that is, the preventable death of thousands of persons cause, among other things, by the lack of timely care, the so called death trip. The five events already stated reveal some of the interests and practices that the Colombian health model has developed for 20 years of existence. Currently, most countries require some changes in the health care systems and in the role of the state in this field, as well as in the values that guide the society as a whole.

El artículo propone hacer una reflexión sobre los postulados y los valores que sustentan el actual Sistema de Seguridad Social en Salud en Colombia, a partir de cinco hechos significativos. El primero es el enriquecimiento de las Entidades Promotoras de Salud, que no priorizan el bienestar humano y se dedican a asuntos del ámbito financiero y administrativo; otro de los hechos, descubierto en el 2011, es la alianza entre las empresas encargadas de ordenar la atención médica de la población y administrar los recursos para financiarla, aumentar los cobros y aumentar así sus ganancias. Por otro lado, está el cierre de las camas de pediatría por ser mal negocio; datos recientes informan de la existencia de solo seis camas de alta complejidad por cada 10 000 niños. La falta de regulación en los precios de los medicamentos, permitido por el modelo de salud vigente, es otro asunto importante que afecta las posibilidades de adquisición de la población más desfavorecida. Y finalmente, el hecho más impactante: la muerte evitable y culpable de miles de personas, producida, entre otros, por la falta de atención oportuna, el llamado paseo de la muerte. Los cinco hechos enunciados develan algunas de los intereses y prácticas que se han desarrollado en los 20 años de existencia del modelo de salud colombiano. Hoy en muchos países se requiere un cambio en el sistema de salud y en el papel del Estado frente a ella, así como en los valores que inspiran a la sociedad en su conjunto.

The article presents some reflections on the provisions and values underlying the real Social Security System for Health in Colombia on the basis of five significant events. The first one is the enrichment of health promoting entities which do not give priority to the human wellbeing and devote themselves to financial and managing affairs. The second one, disclosed in 2011, is the alliance between the companies in charge of the medical care of the population and of administering the resources to finance this activity, in order to increase the charges and the profits as well. On the other hand, the dismantling of pediatric beds since it is bad business; in this regard, recent data reported that there are just 6 highly complex beds per each 10 000 children. Another event is the deregulation of drug prices authorized by the present model, which affects the purchasing possibilities of the more neglected population. Finally, the most striking event, that is, the preventable death of thousands of persons cause, among other things, by the lack of timely care, the so called death trip. The five events already stated reveal some of the interests and practices that the Colombian health model has developed for 20 years of existence. Currently, most countries require some changes in the health care systems and in the role of the state in this field, as well as in the values that guide the society as a whole.

El artículo propone hacer una reflexión sobre los postulados y los valores que sustentan el actual Sistema de Seguridad Social en Salud en Colombia, a partir de cinco hechos significativos. El primero es el enriquecimiento de las Entidades Promotoras de Salud, que no priorizan el bienestar humano y se dedican a asuntos del ámbito financiero y administrativo; otro de los hechos, descubierto en el 2011, es la alianza entre las empresas encargadas de ordenar la atención médica de la población y administrar los recursos para financiarla, aumentar los cobros y aumentar así sus ganancias. Por otro lado, está el cierre de las camas de pediatría por ser mal negocio; datos recientes informan de la existencia de solo seis camas de alta complejidad por cada 10 000 niños. La falta de regulación en los precios de los medicamentos, permitido por el modelo de salud vigente, es otro asunto importante que afecta las posibilidades de adquisición de la población más desfavorecida. Y finalmente, el hecho más impactante: la muerte evitable y culpable de miles de personas, producida, entre otros, por la falta de atención oportuna, el llamado paseo de la muerte. Los cinco hechos enunciados develan algunas de los intereses y prácticas que se han desarrollado en los 20 años de existencia del modelo de salud colombiano. Hoy en muchos países se requiere un cambio en el sistema de salud y en el papel del Estado frente a ella, así como en los valores que inspiran a la sociedad en su conjunto.

Realizou-se um estudo epidemiológico descritivo da mortalidade por homicídios em países da América Latina (Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia e México) de 1990 a 2007. Analisam-se óbitos por causas externas e homicídios, codificados nas 9ª. e 10ª. revisões da Classificação Internacional de Doenças/CID, considerando-se sexo, faixa etária e meio usado na agressão. Apresentam-se números, proporções e taxas ajustadas de mortalidade por homicídios. Usou-se o modelo de regressão linear na tendência das taxas de homicídios por grupos etários. No período, os países contabilizaram 4.086.216 mortes por causas externas e 1.432.971 homicídios. Na Argentina as causas externas cresceram 54,5%, mas diminuíram nos demais (37% no México; 31,8% na Colômbia e 8,1% no Brasil). As razões de mortalidade por homicídios para ambos os sexos foram de 9,1 na Colômbia, 4,4 no Brasil e 1,6 no México, tomando-se as taxas da Argentina como referência. A evolução das taxas de homicídios por faixa etária e sexo mostrou-se distinta nos países: em todos os grupos etários foi crescente no Brasil e decrescente na Colômbia. Destaca-se a necessidade de se priorizar os jovens do sexo masculino nas políticas públicas de atenção e prevenção e da região adotar políticas inclusivas, ampliar e consolidar sua democracia e os direitos dos seus habitantes.

This article is a descriptive epidemiological study of deaths by homicide in Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico) from 1990 to 2007. Deaths due to external causes and homicides, as codified in the 9th and 10th revisions of the International Classification of Diseases/ICD, were analyzed considering sex, age and manner of assault. The numbers, ratios and adjusted rates for deaths by homicide are presented. A linear regression model was used to ascertain the trend of homicide rates by age group. During the period, 4,086,216 deaths from external causes and 1,432,971 homicides were registered in these countries. Deaths from external causes rose 54.5% in Argentina but fell in the other countries (37% in Mexico, 31.8% in Colombia, and 8.1% in Brazil). The ratio for deaths by homicide for both sexes was 9.1 in Colombia, 4.4 in Brazil and 1.6 in Mexico, using the Argentinian rates as a benchmark. There were differences in the evolution of homicide rates by age and sex in the countries: the rate rose in Brazil and fell in Colombia for all age groups. The need to prioritize young males in public policies related to health care and prevention is stressed, as well as the need for the region to adopt inclusive policies and broaden and consolidate democracy and the rights of inhabitants.

The Colombian city of Medellin has faced a severe problem of violence and homicide. The goal of this retrospective, descriptive-analytical study was to assess the magnitude, distribution, most salient characteristics and possible explanations for the problem between 1980 and 2007. Data were obtained from official databases, hospital records and the available literature, and a focus group was set up. There was a dramatic rise in homicides in the city in the time interval studied, with a total of 84,863 documented murders. Ninety-three percent of the victims were male. The 20 to 29 year-old age group was the most affected. Males in this age group, during the worst year of the period (1991), registered an astounding murder rate of 1,709 per 100,000. Even males in the 15 to 19 year age group and the older brackets saw high murder rates. The most common victims were from the lower and lower-middle socioeconomic strata, as has been observed elsewhere in the region. Serious problems were identified in information and in the provision of services. The impact of homicide on the delivery of healthcare services is discussed and a series of tasks for the healthcare sector in the control of this type of violence is proposed.

La ciudad de Medellín, Colombia, ha enfrentado un grave problema de violencia, particularmente homicida. Para avanzar en el conocimiento de la magnitud, distribución, principales características y posibles explicaciones de este problema, se realizó un estudio descriptivo-analítico retrospectivo para el período 1980-2007. Se revisaron bases de datos oficiales y registros hospitalarios; se realizó un grupo focal y se revisó la bibliografía disponible. Se encontró que la ciudad vivió una escalada de violencia homicida en el período, sumando un total de 84.863 homicidios. El 93% de las víctimas fue de sexo masculino y el 7% femenino. El grupo de edad más afectado fue el de 20-29 años. Los hombres de este grupo de edad registraron en 1991, el peor del período, una tasa sorprendente: 1.709 /100.000. Le siguió el subgrupo de 15-19 años, pero aún los grupos de edad de los extremos de la vida registraron tasas preocupantes. Las principales víctimas fueron los hombres jóvenes, de estratos medio-bajo y bajo, como se ha observado en otras ciudades y países de la región. Se identificaron las principales causas, los problemas de información y atención y las consecuencias del problema sobre el personal y los servicios de salud. Al final se plantean algunas tareas del sector salud en el enfrentamiento de la violencia homicida.

Realizou-se um estudo epidemiológico descritivo da mortalidade por homicídios em países da América Latina (Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia e México) de 1990 a 2007. Analisam-se óbitos por causas externas e homicídios, codificados nas 9ª. e 10ª. revisões da Classificação Internacional de Doenças/CID, considerando-se sexo, faixa etária e meio usado na agressão. Apresentam-se números, proporções e taxas ajustadas de mortalidade por homicídios. Usou-se o modelo de regressão linear na tendência das taxas de homicídios por grupos etários. No período, os países contabilizaram 4.086.216 mortes por causas externas e 1.432.971 homicídios. Na Argentina as causas externas cresceram 54,5%, mas diminuíram nos demais (37% no México; 31,8% na Colômbia e 8,1% no Brasil). As razões de mortalidade por homicídios para ambos os sexos foram de 9,1 na Colômbia, 4,4 no Brasil e 1,6 no México, tomando-se as taxas da Argentina como referência. A evolução das taxas de homicídios por faixa etária e sexo mostrou-se distinta nos países: em todos os grupos etários foi crescente no Brasil e decrescente na Colômbia. Destaca-se a necessidade de se priorizar os jovens do sexo masculino nas políticas públicas de atenção e prevenção e da região adotar políticas inclusivas, ampliar e consolidar sua democracia e os direitos dos seus habitantes.

This article is a descriptive epidemiological study of deaths by homicide in Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico) from 1990 to 2007. Deaths due to external causes and homicides, as codified in the 9th and 10th revisions of the International Classification of Diseases/ICD, were analyzed considering sex, age and manner of assault. The numbers, ratios and adjusted rates for deaths by homicide are presented. A linear regression model was used to ascertain the trend of homicide rates by age group. During the period, 4,086,216 deaths from external causes and 1,432,971 homicides were registered in these countries. Deaths from external causes rose 54.5% in Argentina but fell in the other countries (37% in Mexico, 31.8% in Colombia, and 8.1% in Brazil). The ratio for deaths by homicide for both sexes was 9.1 in Colombia, 4.4 in Brazil and 1.6 in Mexico, using the Argentinian rates as a benchmark. There were differences in the evolution of homicide rates by age and sex in the countries: the rate rose in Brazil and fell in Colombia for all age groups. The need to prioritize young males in public policies related to health care and prevention is stressed, as well as the need for the region to adopt inclusive policies and broaden and consolidate democracy and the rights of inhabitants.

The Colombian city of Medellin has faced a severe problem of violence and homicide. The goal of this retrospective, descriptive-analytical study was to assess the magnitude, distribution, most salient characteristics and possible explanations for the problem between 1980 and 2007. Data were obtained from official databases, hospital records and the available literature, and a focus group was set up. There was a dramatic rise in homicides in the city in the time interval studied, with a total of 84,863 documented murders. Ninety-three percent of the victims were male. The 20 to 29 year-old age group was the most affected. Males in this age group, during the worst year of the period (1991), registered an astounding murder rate of 1,709 per 100,000. Even males in the 15 to 19 year age group and the older brackets saw high murder rates. The most common victims were from the lower and lower-middle socioeconomic strata, as has been observed elsewhere in the region. Serious problems were identified in information and in the provision of services. The impact of homicide on the delivery of healthcare services is discussed and a series of tasks for the healthcare sector in the control of this type of violence is proposed.

La ciudad de Medellín, Colombia, ha enfrentado un grave problema de violencia, particularmente homicida. Para avanzar en el conocimiento de la magnitud, distribución, principales características y posibles explicaciones de este problema, se realizó un estudio descriptivo-analítico retrospectivo para el período 1980-2007. Se revisaron bases de datos oficiales y registros hospitalarios; se realizó un grupo focal y se revisó la bibliografía disponible. Se encontró que la ciudad vivió una escalada de violencia homicida en el período, sumando un total de 84.863 homicidios. El 93% de las víctimas fue de sexo masculino y el 7% femenino. El grupo de edad más afectado fue el de 20-29 años. Los hombres de este grupo de edad registraron en 1991, el peor del período, una tasa sorprendente: 1.709 /100.000. Le siguió el subgrupo de 15-19 años, pero aún los grupos de edad de los extremos de la vida registraron tasas preocupantes. Las principales víctimas fueron los hombres jóvenes, de estratos medio-bajo y bajo, como se ha observado en otras ciudades y países de la región. Se identificaron las principales causas, los problemas de información y atención y las consecuencias del problema sobre el personal y los servicios de salud. Al final se plantean algunas tareas del sector salud en el enfrentamiento de la violencia homicida.

This document addresses the concepts of life and peace, as well as the understanding of these two concepts as human rights. It also analyzes how both rights are being severely and systematically violated within and among countries, in the present state of world affairs. Departing from the contributions of different fields towards the concept of life, this article focuses on the recognition of life as the essential right and as the basis for all other rights. The author then presents a realistic and worrisome view of the current state of life and peace as human rights. Statements are backed by data on homicides, forceful displacements, kidnappings and refugees in some of the most representative armed conflicts of today, including the invasion and subsequent war in Iraq and the armed conflicts of Sudan, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine and Colombia. The article concludes with the author's view of possible mechanisms and actions whereby individuals could contribute to the promotion of life and peace, and to a reduction in the violation of these two human rights.

El documento presenta una síntesis de los conceptos de vida y paz y de ambos como derechos humanos. Reconoce que en la actual situación, ambos derechos están siendo sistemática y gravemente negados al interior de muchos países y en el escenario internacional. A partir de sintetizar los aportes de diferentes disciplinas acerca de lo que es la vida, el documento se centra en el reconocimiento de la vida como el derecho esencial y como la base de todos los demás derechos. Se presenta luego un panorama realista y muy preocupante del estado actual de ambos derechos en el mundo. Se aportan cifras y datos sobre homicidios, desplazamientos forzosos por la violencia, refugiados y secuestrados, y sobre diferentes formas de violaciones a los derechos a la vida y a la paz en algunos de los conflictos armados más agudos y representativos en la actualidad, entre ellos la invasión y consiguiente guerra en Irak, y los conflictos de Afganistán, Israel y Palestina y Sudán, con una referencia especial a la situación colombiana. El material termina señalando algunos posibles mecanismos y acciones para contribuir desde la posición de cada cual a la reducción de las violaciones a estos dos derechos humanos y a fomentar su vigencia.