Abstract

ACERO GONZALEZ, Ángela Rocío; ESCOBAR-CORDOBA, Franklin  and  CASTELLANOS CASTANEDA, Gabriel. Risk Factors for Juvenile Violence and Homicide. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2007, vol.36, n.1, pp.78-97. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: Violence has been declared a problem of public health by the World Health Organization since 1996. In the last years, an alarming increase of violence involving adolescents has been seen, reflected in several indicators like the number of homicides. Objective: To explore risk factors for juvenile violence and homicide based on a review of the literature with emphasis in Colombian information. Material and Methods: A narrative review of the literature was made searching biomedical databases, including studies made with adolescents, both genders, published in English and other languages from 1966 to 2006. Results: 107 studies were identified that study different risk factors for homicide and juvenile violence. The use of guns, the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, intrafamilial violence, history of conduct disorder, suicide attempts, convicted parents, gang membership and beliefs that favor violent acts as a solution to problems were found to be the most important factors. Conclusions: Adolescents are both perpetrators and victims of violent acts, homicide being the second cause of death between the ages of 15 to 19 years old. Risk factors associated with violence and juvenile homicide are similar, making their study of extreme importance. Colombia does not escape this phenomenon. Many studies find that the main risk factor is to have been a victim of violence.

Keywords : Adolescent behavior; conduct disorder; dangerous behavior; homicide; juvenile delinquency.

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