Abstract

SANCHEZ V, Guillermo; LAZA V, Celmira; ESTUPINAN G, Carolina  and  ESTUPINAN G, Laura. Barriers to healthcare access: narratives of women with breast cancer in Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2014, vol.32, n.3, pp.305-313. ISSN 0120-386X.

OBJECTIVE: to explore the existence of barriers to healthcare access in the narratives of women with breast cancer who have received the support of six Colombian NGOs. METHODOLOGY: a descriptive qualitative interpretive study was carried out in five Colombian cities: Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Santa Marta and Valledupar. Data was collected through focus groups and interviews with 44 women supported by six NGOs. RESULTS :in the process, four categories emerged: barriers linked to structural determinants, barriers arising from intermediate determinants, tools to address barriers and a category referring to the opportunity for diagnosis and breast cancer treatment. From these categories, a model of barriers preventing access to breast cancer-related healthcare is proposed from the perspective of social determinants. DISCUSSION:despite the Country's efforts to improve the opportunity for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer -including the enactment of Act 1384 of 2010 (Sandra Ceballos Act)- women with breast cancer face barriers to healthcare access which are socially determined and against which the system shows some degree of inability.

Keywords : breast neoplasms; accessibility to healthcare services; health systems; delivery of healthcare; healthcare services research; public health policies.

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