Social unrest and violence in Colombia have profoundly influenced the epidemiology as well as the health indicators of the Colombian population⁴⁶.

In 1998, there were 419.9 registered deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (509.5 male and 331.4 female deaths per 100,000 inhabitants). Cardiovascular diseases represented the first cause of death (113.4) followed in second place by violence including homicide, accidents and suicide (97.0). Homicide constitutes the most important cause of death among young adults (age 15-49). Malignant diseases were in third place (61.3) and infectious diseases represented the fourth most important cause of death (37.4)⁴⁷. The 1998 mortality rate for children under the age of 5 was 336.8 per 100,000 inhabitants and acute infectious conditions represented a significant cause of death within this social sector (9.4% of these deaths were due to acute respiratory diseases and 8.9% were due to acute diarrhoea).

Over the last 50 years, Colombia has experienced a significant demographic transformation⁴⁸. Fertility, birth and child death rates have steadily decreased, life expectancy has increased and inhabitants have increasingly established in urban areas. A similar trend is observed in other Latin American countries.

Despite a growing older population and an already high incidence of malignant conditions, the provision of palliative care does not seem to represent a priority for within the Colombian health care system⁴⁹.