Table 1 Variables of human development, health, and availability of biomedical facilities in Waca Playa and Pitumarca

Human Development Index

0.36 ^a

0.51 ^b

Life expectancy (years)

52.4 ^a

70.0 ^b

National social health security

SUMI: coverage for pregnant women and children under age 5

SIS: coverage for all adult population living in poverty or extreme poverty

Community biomedical facilities

Rudimentary medical post with one auxiliary nurse provides ambulatory health care to 20 villages. Approximately one visit by auxiliary nurse every two months to each village.^c

Health center with 11 health professionals, including one medical doctor. One visit by a nurse per month to each village. 4 to 6 health workers trained in each village. ^c

Distance from community to villages where households were interviewed (km)

5 to 9 ^c

4 to 5 ^c

Distance from community to nearest hospital (km)

approximately 40 (dirt road) ^c

35 (paved road) ^c

Beds per inhabitant (number)

0.66 ^d

0.84 ^e