Characterization of family functionality and existing social networks displaced by violence in some locations in Bogotá DC. Caracterización de la funcionalidad familiar y redes sociales existentes en desplazados por la violencia en algunas localidades de Bogotá DC. Año 2007, bajo los lineamientos de medicina familiar

Abstract

Introduction: As the capital city of Colombia, Bogotá DC. is the major receptor of population migration resulting from violence. These are individuals or family groups who experience non expected crises and need comprehensive assistance in order to recover their biological/psychosocial well-being. Objective: to characterize family function and vital cycle and to identify existing social networks by means of family medicine instruments applied on a violence-related displaced population in some locations of Bogotá DC. during year 2007. Methods: a subgroup analysis was performed using data of family files of Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud (FUCS) and ASCOFAME Agreement by means of a cross sectional descriptive trial. It describes demographic features and family function measured with duly validated instruments (Family APGAR), as well as, the assessment of current social networks in Colombian-government-certified violence-related displaced families in three locations: Engativá, Mártires and San Cristóbal. Results: the characteristics of 795 families and 3815 individuals are described. Mean age was 22 years (of 17). The greatest proportion of the studied population came from the Andean zone (49.9%) and the Caribbean (18.9%). Adolescents and elementary-school-aged children were found in 53.5% of families. Using the Family APGAR instrument, 40.7% were classified as functional families, 27% as having mild dysfunction, 20.8% moderate and 11.5% severe dysfunction. Conclusions: any degree of dysfunction was identified in most of the displaced families, predominantly mild dysfunction, when the Family APGAR instrument was completed by one of their members. Severe dysfunction is related to unemployment and to lack of recreation within family nucleus.