Abstract

BALLESTEROS P, Mónica Patricia; GAVIRIA L, Marta Beatriz  and  MARTINEZ B, Sofía Elena. Description of access to health services for displaced recipient children in marginal settlements of six cities in Colombia, 2002-2003. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2006, vol.24, n.1, pp.7-17. ISSN 0120-386X.

Objective: to describe access to health services in displaced recipient children living in marginal settlements in Colombia. Design and method: cross-sectional study with secondary sources provided by PAHO, which included information about children under 18 years old who lived in settlements of six cities in Colombia (Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin, Monteria and Soacha). Results: similar distribution by sex and age. It was observed a greater proportion of displaced children not attending to school and with bigger households. Low proportion of health services attendance for those subjects who felt the need to look for attention frequently arguing lack of money, with no differences by population with any other associations. Real access was associated with being displa- ced. Using multiple correspondence analysis individuals were typified, showing high vulnerability when it comes to health services access for those subjects with a paper authorizing health attention and belonging to a household headed by a woman with no remunerated job. Conclusion: observed difficulties to health access were related to aspects different from social security; as lack of money, being a displaced person, a paper authorizing health attention and belong to a household headed by a woman with no remunerated job.

Keywords : Forced displacement; health services accessibility; isolated population; Colombia; child health.