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

Título traducido de la contribución: Desigualdades en el acceso a los servicios de salud entre los adultos mayores en 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

Producción: Contribución a una publicación especializada › Artículo

Resumen

Las disparidades en el acceso a los servicios de salud para los adultos mayores en Colombia requieren monitoreo. Este estudio examina las desigualdades en el acceso a los servicios de salud entre los adultos colombianos de 60 años o más entre 2015 y 2023, utilizando datos de las Encuestas Nacionales de Calidad de Vida de Colombia. Se aplicó el modelo de Levesque para evaluar las capacidades de percibir, buscar, acceder, pagar y acceder a los servicios de salud. Se utilizó una puntuación compuesta para agregar estas dimensiones, reflejando el acceso general a los servicios de salud. Se realizaron análisis estratificados para explorar las disparidades por sexo, región, residencia e ingresos. Los resultados indican que el acceso a los servicios de salud varió a lo largo del tiempo, con discrepancias notables según sexo, región, residencia e ingresos. Los residentes urbanos y las personas de hogares con mayores ingresos experimentaron sistemáticamente un mejor acceso a los servicios de salud. Las disparidades persistieron durante el período de estudio, observándose las mayores diferencias regionales en 2023. Estos hallazgos subrayan la importancia de abordar estas desigualdades para garantizar una atención médica equitativa para la población adulta mayor de Colombia.

Título traducido de la contribución	Desigualdades en el acceso a los servicios de salud entre los adultos mayores en Colombia, 2015-2023
Idioma original	Inglés
Páginas	1-13
Número de páginas	13
Volumen	4
N.º	1
Publicación especializada	Cogent Gerontology
Editor	Taylor and Francis
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1080/28324897.2025.2570145
Estado	Publicada - 24 oct. 2025

Palabras clave

Older adults
aging
Health inequalities
disparities
Colombia

ODS de las Naciones Unidas

Este resultado contribuye a los siguientes Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible

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@misc{05f8508980624c11a5d4f83f967c4d99,

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",

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journal = "Cogent Gerontology",

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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

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DO - 10.1080/28324897.2025.2570145

M3 - Article

SN - 2832-4897

VL - 4

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JO - Cogent Gerontology

JF - Cogent Gerontology

PB - Taylor and Francis

ER -

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

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ODS de las Naciones Unidas

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