Inequalities in access to health services among older adults in Colombia, 2015−2023

Andrea  Mejia Grueso; Juliana Mejía-Grueso; Erika Geraldine Guarín Navas; Carlos Mario Cortes Bahamon; Diego Andres Chavarro Carvajal; Gloria Isabel Niño-Cruz; Luisa Arroyave; Carlos Alberto  Cano-Gutiérrez

doi:10.1080/28324897.2025.2570145

Inequalities in access to health services among older adults in Colombia, 2015−2023

Andrea Mejia Grueso
, Juliana Mejía-Grueso
, Erika Geraldine Guarín Navas
, Carlos Mario Cortes Bahamon
, Diego Andres Chavarro Carvajal
, Gloria Isabel Niño-Cruz
, Luisa Arroyave
, Carlos Alberto Cano-Gutiérrez

Hospital Universitario San Ignacio
Global Observatory for Physical Activity- GoPA
Universidad Javeriana
Universidad de los Andes Colombia
International Center for Equity in Health, Universidade Federal do Pelotas

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

Disparities in access to health services for older adults in Colombia require monitoring. This study examines inequalities in access to health services among Colombian adults aged 60 and older from 2015 to 2023, using data from the Colombian National Quality of Life surveys. Levesque’s model was applied to evaluate the abilities to perceive, seek, reach, pay for, and engage with healthcare services. A composite score was used to aggregate these dimensions, reflecting overall access to health services. Stratified analyses were conducted to explore disparities by sex, region, residence, and income. The results indicate that access to health services varied over time, with notable discrepancies based on sex, region, residence, and income. Urban residents and individuals from higher-income households consistently experienced better access to healthcare services. Disparities persisted across the study period, with the greatest regional differences observed in 2023. These findings underscore the importance of addressing these inequalities to ensure equitable healthcare for Colombia’s aging population.

Translated title of the contribution	Desigualdades en el acceso a los servicios de salud entre los adultos mayores en Colombia, 2015-2023
Original language	English
Pages	1-13
Number of pages	13
Volume	4
No	1
Specialist publication	Cogent Gerontology
Publisher	Taylor and Francis
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/28324897.2025.2570145
State	Published - 24 Oct 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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title = "Inequalities in access to health services among older adults in Colombia, 2015−2023",

abstract = "Disparities in access to health services for older adults in Colombia require monitoring. This study examines inequalities in access to health services among Colombian adults aged 60 and older from 2015 to 2023, using data from the Colombian National Quality of Life surveys. Levesque{\textquoteright}s model was applied to evaluate the abilities to perceive, seek, reach, pay for, and engage with healthcare services. A composite score was used to aggregate these dimensions, reflecting overall access to health services. Stratified analyses were conducted to explore disparities by sex, region, residence, and income. The results indicate that access to health services varied over time, with notable discrepancies based on sex, region, residence, and income. Urban residents and individuals from higher-income households consistently experienced better access to healthcare services. Disparities persisted across the study period, with the greatest regional differences observed in 2023. These findings underscore the importance of addressing these inequalities to ensure equitable healthcare for Colombia{\textquoteright}s aging population. ",

keywords = "Older adults, aging, Health inequalities, disparities, Colombia",

author = "\{Mejia Grueso\}, Andrea and Juliana Mej{\'i}a-Grueso and \{Guar{\'i}n Navas\}, \{Erika Geraldine\} and \{Cortes Bahamon\}, \{Carlos Mario\} and \{Chavarro Carvajal\}, \{Diego Andres\} and Ni{\~n}o-Cruz, \{Gloria Isabel\} and Luisa Arroyave and Cano-Guti{\'e}rrez, \{Carlos Alberto\}",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "24",

doi = "10.1080/28324897.2025.2570145",

language = "English",

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pages = "1--13",

journal = "Cogent Gerontology",

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TY - GEN

T1 - Inequalities in access to health services among older adults in Colombia, 2015−2023

AU - Mejia Grueso, Andrea

AU - Mejía-Grueso, Juliana

AU - Guarín Navas, Erika Geraldine

AU - Cortes Bahamon, Carlos Mario

AU - Chavarro Carvajal, Diego Andres

AU - Niño-Cruz, Gloria Isabel

AU - Arroyave, Luisa

AU - Cano-Gutiérrez, Carlos Alberto

PY - 2025/10/24

Y1 - 2025/10/24

N2 - Disparities in access to health services for older adults in Colombia require monitoring. This study examines inequalities in access to health services among Colombian adults aged 60 and older from 2015 to 2023, using data from the Colombian National Quality of Life surveys. Levesque’s model was applied to evaluate the abilities to perceive, seek, reach, pay for, and engage with healthcare services. A composite score was used to aggregate these dimensions, reflecting overall access to health services. Stratified analyses were conducted to explore disparities by sex, region, residence, and income. The results indicate that access to health services varied over time, with notable discrepancies based on sex, region, residence, and income. Urban residents and individuals from higher-income households consistently experienced better access to healthcare services. Disparities persisted across the study period, with the greatest regional differences observed in 2023. These findings underscore the importance of addressing these inequalities to ensure equitable healthcare for Colombia’s aging population.

AB - Disparities in access to health services for older adults in Colombia require monitoring. This study examines inequalities in access to health services among Colombian adults aged 60 and older from 2015 to 2023, using data from the Colombian National Quality of Life surveys. Levesque’s model was applied to evaluate the abilities to perceive, seek, reach, pay for, and engage with healthcare services. A composite score was used to aggregate these dimensions, reflecting overall access to health services. Stratified analyses were conducted to explore disparities by sex, region, residence, and income. The results indicate that access to health services varied over time, with notable discrepancies based on sex, region, residence, and income. Urban residents and individuals from higher-income households consistently experienced better access to healthcare services. Disparities persisted across the study period, with the greatest regional differences observed in 2023. These findings underscore the importance of addressing these inequalities to ensure equitable healthcare for Colombia’s aging population.

KW - Older adults

KW - aging

KW - Health inequalities

KW - disparities

KW - Colombia

U2 - 10.1080/28324897.2025.2570145

DO - 10.1080/28324897.2025.2570145

M3 - Article

SN - 2832-4897

VL - 4

SP - 1

EP - 13

JO - Cogent Gerontology

JF - Cogent Gerontology

PB - Taylor and Francis

ER -

Inequalities in access to health services among older adults in Colombia, 2015−2023

Abstract

UN SDGs

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