Violencia hacia las personas con discapacidad: perfil en la región noroccidental de Colombia, 2021–2023

Objective

To describe the profile of people with disabilities who have experienced some form of violence in the northwestern region of Colombia between 2021 and 2023.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study based on records from the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (INMLCF). All reports of violence against people with disabilities in the departments of Antioquia, Córdoba, and Chocó from 2021 to 2023 were included. Sociodemographic, temporal, spatial, and event-specific variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests in SPSS software.

Results

A total of 503 cases of violence against people with disabilities were identified, with a regional incidence of 1.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Women were affected in 56.7% of cases. Women with mental, multiple, and hearing disabilities were the most impacted, while among men, violence was more prevalent in those with visual and physical disabilities. The home was the most common setting for the incidents, and the primary suspected aggressor was a family member.

Conclusions

This study highlights the vulnerability factors of people with disabilities to various forms of violence and underscores the need for differentiated public policies that address the specificities of this phenomenon. Violence in this group is not only mediated by gender but also by the type of disability and social structure. Greater awareness, preventive strategies, and a comprehensive approach are required to ensure protection and access to justice for these individuals.