Barreras de oferta y demanda a los servicios de salud visual de los padres y madres cabeza de familia residentes en el casco urbano del municipio de Puerto Santander durante el año 2025

Abstract

Access to visual health services in rural and border contexts faces multiple challenges related to structural, socioeconomic, and administrative factors, particularly affecting heads of household. This study aimed to analyze supply and demand barriers influencing access to visual health services among fathers and mothers who are heads of household living in the urban area of Puerto Santander during 2025. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted using semi-structured interviews applied to a non-probabilistic convenience sample, defined by thematic saturation. Data analysis was performed through open and axial coding, supported by theoretical frameworks on healthcare accessibility, distance friction, and social capital. The results revealed demand-side barriers such as financial constraints limiting the purchase of corrective lenses, time restrictions related to work and caregiving responsibilities, lack of information about available programs, and institutional distrust. Supply-side barriers included shortage of specialists, operational failures, complex administrative procedures, and referrals to healthcare facilities outside the municipality, increasing waiting times and the risk of discontinuity of care. These barriers were more pronounced among migrant populations due to documentation requirements and perceived exclusionary treatment. In conclusion, effective access to visual health services in Puerto Santander is shaped by the interaction of economic, administrative, territorial, and informational factors, which hinder continuity of care and timely visual correction in this population.