Bariloche: hidden contrasts in an alpine paradise. Socio-sanitary inequalities in the urban space

Abstract

Introduction. Most of the observed health inequalities are related to inequalities in other contexts of social life. Local studies allow us to visualize these variations on a smaller scale.
Aim. To examine spatial distribution of cardiovascular disease based on the living conditions and geographical location of health-care attention.
Materials and Methods. Bariloche was characterized according to the living conditions of its neighborhoods by the selection of indicators through a factor analysis. The population treated for diabetes or hypertension in health-care centers was spatially distributed. Health problems were obtained from medical records. The distribution of each dimension was analyzed and the proportions of treated individuals according to living conditions and location of health-care attention were obtained.
Results. Almost half (47.6%) of the population lived in neighborhoods with deficient and cri-tical living conditions. Of those individuals treated for diabetes and/or hypertension, 63.2% lived in the neighborhoods with the worst living conditions. A positive gradient was identified: We identified a clear correlation between the overall quality of life and cardiovascular disease.
Discussion. In urban space, living conditions are closely related to health problems, establi¬shing different possibilities to address the latter . In a city, residency in specific neighborhoods informs the possibilities / impossibilities to access to relative levels of needs satisfaction, and to develop certain outcomes. Identification of groups and critical zones could contribute to the development of specific public policies.