ACCESSIBILITY TO HEALTH CARE CENTER: AN INSIDE PERSPECTIVE

Introduction: The 31st slum has an heterogenic population that is in constant growth. The 104th block belongs to one of the neighborhoods located furthest from the health care centers. This could interfere with accessibility to health and health care. Objective: To conduct a health situation analysis to learn the characteristics of this population, as well as their perception on local health providers. In order to plan and implement health actions directed to their needs. Methods: Data recollection was carried out during May-July 2014, through a questionnaire with three separates: housing conditions, cohabitants and health. 50 houses were interviewed through consecutive sampling. Data was analyzed with Epidat 4.0, categorical variables are expressed in %. Results: 48% of families have been living in the neighborhood for less than 5 years, mostly young people (32.6 years, DS 11.87) born in foreign countries. 98% of the houses have essential services, overcrowding was found in 22%. 70% have preoccupations, mainly about employment, security, lightning, sewage and garbage disposal. 88% had medical consultations during 2013, 60% admitted difficulties in health care centers (impossibility of getting appointments, having to queue since dawn to get appointments, long waits until consultation) but only 26% recognized this as a problem. Conclusions: The population interviewed is young and has been living in the neighborhood for a short time. In spite of all the obstacles in access to health care centers only a few are aware of this as a problem and seems to be conceived as part of the health system.