[The evolution of mortality by homicide in the State of Bahia in the period from 1996 to 2010].

An ecological study was conducted, the objective of which was to describe the evolution of homicide rates for residents of the State of Bahia, Brazil, and its nine health macroregions (MRS) in the period from 1996 to 2010. Crude and adjusted data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and X85-Y09 codes of the Tenth International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) were analyzed. The number, proportion and homicide mortality rates (TMH) were analyzed. considering the characteristics of the victim and the event. The results revealed a profile of predominantly male mortality, Afro-Brazilian race/ethnicity with little education. The public highways were the main location of occurrence of deaths. There was an increase in TMH in all age groups, though the highest rates were observed in the population of 15 to 39 years of age. The TMH age-standardized rates were higher in the Far South, East, North and South. The conclusion reached was that the killings can be addressed from the loation/regional realities through strategic and planning of intersectoral actions that take into account the socioeconomic and cultural characteristics.