[Access to social networks and health care among extremely poor people].
BACKGROUND
Extremely poor people have more problems to have access to social networks and health care.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the access to health services and the perception about these services of adults living in conditions of extreme poverty.


METHODS
A survey was applied to 361 people living in slums aged 15 to 77 years (83% females), that were living in these conditions for a mean of 11 years. Twenty six in-depth interviews were also performed to prototypical subjects living in extreme poverty.


RESULTS
Ten percent of subjects were illiterate. Sixty two percent were unsatisfied with their access to health services and 32% were not registered in primary health clinics. Among children of less than 6 years of age, 22% were delayed in their vaccination schedule and 32% were not withdrawing the milk delivered by the complementary feeding program of the clinic. The qualitative analysis revealed that the lack of access to health care is associated with the feeling of exclusion, mutual distrust and lack of resolution of health problems.


CONCLUSIONS
People living in extreme poverty are distrustful and perceive obstacles to have access to the health care system.
Bedregal
Paula
P
Departamento de Salud Pública, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile. pbedrega@med.puc.cl
Zavala
Cynthia
C
Atria
Jorge
J
Núñez
Gabriela
G
Pinto
María José
MJ
Valdés
Soledad
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult