Socioeconomic conditions related to maternal-child health services access in the zone 6 of ecuador. literature review

Universal access to healthcare services ensures that all individuals have the right to receive medical care with warmth and quality. Zone 6 of the Ministry of Public Health is characterized by disparities in social, economic, and geographical domains. Thus, addressing the social determinants of maternal and child health requires an analysis of economic and health indicators such as poverty, inequality, maternal-neonatal mortality, and child malnutrition. The objective is to describe how socioeconomic conditions influence access to maternal and child healthcare services in Zone 6 of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador and their relationship with maternal-neonatal mortality and child malnutrition. A literature review was conducted using digital databases such as PubMed, Scielo, Google Scholar, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), and the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) from 2014 to 2023. The descriptors used were: Prenatal Care, maternal-child health, Health Services Accessibility, Economy. In total, 12 articles related to maternal and child health were analyzed, focusing on indicators of child malnutrition, prenatal care, factors influencing adherence to gynecological/obstetric monitoring, maternal and neonatal mortality. Access to healthcare services is affected by socioeconomic conditions at both the population and institutional levels. Poverty, education, employment, sanitation services, and state investment directly influence health outcomes. The strategies and programs implemented at the national level targeting pregnancy monitoring and combating child malnutrition are closely linked to the national macroeconomic situation as well as to the social, cultural, and economic factors of individuals.