Oferta de médicos del primer nivel de atención en la provincia del Azuay, año 2018

Abstract

Background: Despite the increase in physicians in recent years, population health indicators related to PHC goals do not show improvement. The availability and distribution of primary care physicians are important because they are responsible for the execution of actions related to the essential goals of PHC. General objective: Describe the supply of first level care physicians in the province of Azuay through the relationship between standards and observed distribution, in 2018. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out. Data were obtained from the page of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) of the database "Health Resources and Activities 2018 - Health Statistics" published on March 31, 2020. We worked in Excel, using proportions, rates, and reasons. The results were presented using tables and maps made with the geographic information system software Quantum GIS. Results: 56% of first-level doctors are concentrated in the Cuenca canton, this together with Girón reached the WHO recommendation on medical personnel of 23 x 10 000 inhabitants. However, there was a significant shortage of top-level doctors in these cantons, as well as in the rest of the province's territory. Conclusion: The province of Azuay presents a deficit in the supply of doctors, very evident in the case of doctors of the first level of health, in addition there is an inadequate urban-rural distribution of medical personnel.