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Table 8 Perception of common medical conditions and why individuals get sick (n = 21, total; n = 13, male; n = 8, female)

From: Identifying health care access barriers in southern rural Ecuador

Variable

Male n (%)

Female n (%)

Total n (%)

Most common medical conditions in the communitya

13

8

21

Influenza

7 (54%)

5 (63%)

12 (57%)

Common cold

7 (54%)

3 (38%)

10 (48%)

Back Pain

5 (38%)

2 (25%)

7 (33%)

Cancer

2 (15%)

1 (13%)

3 (14%)

Diabetes mellitus

3 (23%)

-

3 (14%)

Fever

3 (23%)

-

3 (14%)

Gastritis

1 (8%)

2 (25%)

3 (14%)

Headache

3 (23%)

-

3 (14%)

Arthritis

1 (8%)

1 (13%)

2 (10%)

Hypercholesterolemia

2 (15%)

-

2 (10%)

Hypertension

2 (15%)

-

2 (10%)

Malaria

2 (15%)

-

2 (10%)

Diarrhea

-

1 (13%)

1 (5%)

Myocardial infarction

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Stroke

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Why individuals get sick

13

8

21

Unhealthy diet/ Lack of nutrients/ Eating too much

8 (62%)

2 (25%)

10 (48%)

Exposure to the sun

7 (54%)

2 (25%)

9 (43%)

Eating chemically treated food

4 (31%)

4 (50%)

8 (38%)

Don’t care for their health/ go for periodic check-ups

3 (23%)

1 (13%)

4 (19%)

Spreading insecticide

4 (31%)

-

4 (19%)

Being stressed

1 (8%)

1 (13%)

2 (10%)

Exposure to dust

2 (15%)

-

2 (10%)

Not drinking enough water

2 (15%)

-

2 (10%)

Working too much

1 (8%)

1 (13%)

2 (10%)

Alcoholism

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Antimicrobial resistance

-

1 (13%)

1 (5%)

Being from the city

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Born sick

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Changes in weather

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Destiny

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Low immune system

1 (8%)

-

1 (5%)

Walk on the dirt without shoes

-

1 (13%)

1 (5%)

  1. aSelf-reported medical conditions during the interview and focus group