Inequalities in health system coverage and quality: a cross-sectional survey of four Latin American countries.

ABSTRACT: The premise of health as a human right in Latin America has been challenged by health system fragmentation, quality gaps, a growing burden of chronic disease, sociopolitical upheaval, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We characterised inequities in health system quality in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. We did a cross-sectional telephone survey with up to 1250 adults in each country. We created binary outcomes in coverage, user experience, system competence, and confidence in the system and calculated the slope index of inequality by income and education. Although access to care was high, only a third of respondents reported having a high-quality source of care and 25% of those with mental health needs had those needs met. Two-thirds of adults were able to access relevant preventive care an

SUBMITTER: Roberti J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10716623 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature