Identifying health care access barriers in southern rural Ecuador

Modifiable health care access barriers outlined in the HCAB are evident in the study area. Further research and implementation of programs to resolve these barriers, such as the creation of health care subcenters and/or mobile clinic, insurance coverage of specialized care, increasing availability and accessibility to affordable transportation, improving roadways, introduction of a 24/7 call center to schedule medical visits, monetary incentive for primary care physicians to practice in rural and underserved areas, provision of affordable work equipment, and emphasizing the improvement of health care literacy through education, may diminish current barriers, identify additional barriers, and improve overall health in the rural area of Loja, Ecuador and similar rural regions around the world.