Access to health services for chronic disease care during the Covid-19 pandemic in Ecuador
A qualitative analysis using a Social Determinants of Health approach
Bibliographic Data
This qualitative study aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare access for patients with chronic conditions in Ecuador from the patient's perspective. We interviewed 19 patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension or type 2 diabetes in rural and urban areas of Ecuador during August and September 2020. We used the Framework Method to analyse the interview transcripts with ATLAS.Ti 8.4 and organised the ideas discussed using categories from the World Health Organization Commission on the Social Determinants of Health conceptual framework. Reorganization of health services during the pandemic meant that patients with arterial hypertension or diabetes could no longer attend face-to-face appointments for disease follow-up. System failures related to medication supply led to increased out-of-pocket payments, which, together with reduced or absent earnings, and in a context with limited social protection policies, meant that patients frequently went for prolonged periods without medication. Rural health initiatives, support from family and use of traditional medicine were reported as ways to manage their chronic condition during this time. Barriers to disease management disproportionately affected individuals with low socioeconomic positions. Stock shortages, lack of protective labour policies and limited reach of anticipatory policies for health emergencies likely worsened pre-existing health inequities in Ecuador
Context (archaeology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Economic growth · Environmental health · Geography · Health care · Health equity · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Pandemic · Pathology · Population · Public health · Qualitative research · Rural area · Social determinants of health · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Health disparities and outcomes · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Nursing · Health Policy
Determinación Social De La Salud Como Herramienta De Transformación Hacia Una Nueva Salud Pública (Salud Colectiva)
Covid-19 and Italy
Offline
Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health research
Covid-19 en clave de género
A systematic review of associations between non-communicable diseases and socioeconomic status within low- and lower-middle-income countries
Why language matters
Assessing evidence of inequalities in access to medication for diabetic populations in low- and middle-income countries
Funcionamiento y gobernanza del Sistema Nacional de Salud del Ecuador
Psychological, Social and Health-Related Challenges in Spanish Older Adults During the Lockdown of the Covid-19 First Wave
Pobreza y desigualdades en el sector de la salud
Impacto de la Covid-19 en la prestación de los servicios de salud esenciales en Paraguay
Informality and poverty in Ecuador
The Role of Automatic Stabilizers and Emergency Tax–Benefit Policies During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Desigualdade no acesso à saúde entre as áreas urbanas e rurais do Brasil
Online Peer-to-Peer Communities in the Daily Lives of People With Chronic Illness
Crisis, austeridad y áreas rurales
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2025 (2) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |