Caracterización de la ocupación comercial del espacio público y su relación con las condiciones socidemográficas de sus ocupantes en la zona centro del municipio de Quibdó, chocó.

Abstract

This study characterized commercial public space occupation and its relationship with the sociodemographic conditions of its occupants in the downtown area of Quibdó, Chocó (25th Street between 4th and 6th Avenues). Using a mixed-methods approach with a descriptive-relational scope and cross-sectional design, a complete census was conducted covering all 74 occupation points identified in the stretch. The results revealed a strong prevalence of informal occupation (82.4%) over formal occupation (17.6%), mainly concentrated in the accessories trade (31.1%) and predominantly carried out using temporary structures such as tarps or umbrellas (56.8%). In 58.1% of the surveyed points, the remaining clear sidewalk width was under 1.2 meters, hindering pedestrian accessibility. Sociodemographically, occupants were mostly male (55.4%), aged 31 to 45 years (40.5%), with high school education (56.8%), and 77.0% migrated from municipalities other than Quibdó. About 51.4% reside in the study area neighborhood (Pandeyuca), and for 56.8%, this activity serves as their sole income source. Chi-square tests showed no statistically significant association between the type of occupation (formal/informal) and neighborhood residence ($p = 0.84$), activity status ($p = 0.16$), or sex ($p = 0.46$). It is concluded that commercial occupation formality is shaped by socio-spatial and urban regulatory dynamics rather than individual sociodemographic attributes of the occupants. Keywords: Public space, commercial occupation, informal labor, sociodemographic conditions, Quibdó.