POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE THIRD-WORLD - A PUBLIC-HEALTH ISSUE

The impact of political violence on health and health services is substantial in many parts of the world. A variety of types of political violence are discernible and may be broadly categorized as structural, repressive, reactive and combative. These different types of violence are described. Particular emphasis is given to a discussion of state repressive violence, including its aetiology and magnitude.An agenda for research, policy and action is described arguing that health personnel have a role to play in documenting the form and impact of political violence, providing treatment and care for its victims, developing training and education packages for health workers who may deal with situations of violence and advocacy work aimed at prevention. © 1991 Oxford University Press.