¿Qué es primero: Desigualdades o inequidades? A propósito del caso de la mortalidad por VIH/ sida en Cali, Colombia (1986-2012)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mortality due to HIV/AIDS in Cali, Colombia, in the 1986 - 2012 period, and, from there, understand from a conceptual point of view the related social determinants. We carried out a retrospective observational longitudinal study with a total of 14,192 cases. We found a growing tendency in the mortality rate, particularly starting in 1996. The higher rate for the whole period was seen in 2011. The inequality measure revealed a higher number of deaths in lower and middle social strata, when compared with the high strata. This study provides evidence on the persistent inequalities in the mortality due to HIV/AIDS, as an expression of the structural inequalities present in Cali. In Breilh's perspective, critical social and economic determination processes could have affected mortality, especially in the groups whose social rights have been violated the most.