SEQUÍA Y CALIDAD DE VIDA EN ZONA URBANO-RURAL SEGÚN GRUPOS VULNERABLES Y PROFESIONALES DE SALUD

Abstract

In Chile, drought has affected the socially and economically vulnerable population, adversely impacting social determinants, health and quality of life. Objective: To address the effects of drought in an urban-rural area on the quality of life from the perspective of the vulnerable population and health professionals. Material and Method: Qualitative research, with a multiple case study, carried out in an urban-rural area of the Valparaíso Region, which has been declared as a drought disaster area for the seventh consecutive year. A qualitative semistructured interview was applied to 10 people over 65 years of age, 10 mothers of children under five years of age and 6 health professionals, after obtaining prior informed consent. Content analysis was performed using Atlas ti® version 8, resulting in codes, categories and subcategories. The ethical principles of Ezekiel Emanuel were applied and in order to ensure methodological rigor, the principles of credibility, reliability, confirmability and transferability were considered. Results: The categories that emerged were: 1. Devastating consequences of drought on families: family impoverishment, youth migration; 2. Day-to-day adaptation challenge: ensuring water supply through reuse; 3. Perception of invisibility: feeling of being unsupported, loss of trust in organizations; 4. Professionals’ view: insufficient mitigation measures and misinformation. Conclusions: The results show the consequences of drought on the quality of life of vulnerable groups and the challenges that health professionals face when implementing adaptation strategies to climate change.