Desigualdad territorial en el acceso a servicios de salud en la población rural del cantón Cotacachi, año 2024

Abstract

Abstract: Access to public health in rural areas is always limited by geographical and socioeconomic factors, a lack of healthcare professionals, a shortage of medical supplies, and other aspects that hinder the population from receiving timely care. In this sense, the general objective of this work was to analyze territorial inequality in access to health services in the rural area of ​​the Cotacachi canton during the year 2024. To achieve this, a mixed-methods approach was used, employing descriptive, documentary, and field research. This involved administering 383 surveys via the Google Forms platform to residents of the Cotacachi canton, especially those in rural areas, and conducting 13 interviews with sectional, district, and parish authorities who provided relevant information on the current situation. The results detailed that 46% live more than 5 km away from the health center, and similarly, 43% take more than an hour to reach the health facility. In contrast, the people interviewed also described the poor condition of the roads as a barrier that hinders mobility and the transfer of users to receive timely care, considering that in rural areas the roads are scattered and difficult to access.