Situational health diagnosis in the rural parish of Noboa, Ecuador: a descriptive cross-sectional study on the mixed burden of disease and access barriers

This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the health situation of Noboa parish, Manabí, Ecuador, during 2024. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 90 inhabitants selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, using a structured questionnaire and reviewing local health facility records. Descriptive statistics were applied for analysis. A total of 28 communicable disease cases were identified, with coronavirus (34.5%) and dengue (27.6%) predominating; among non-communicable chronic conditions (11 cases), arterial hypertension (27.3%) and diabetes mellitus (18.2%) were most frequent. Over half of the population (55.6%) lacked access to prevention programs, while alcohol consumption (38.9%) and a history of tobacco use (33.3%) were reported. Problem prioritization ranked acute respiratory infections in children and geographical access barriers as leading health issues. Noboa parish faces a mixed burden of communicable and chronic diseases, compounded by behavioral risk factors and limited preventive access, underscoring the need to strengthen primary care through health education, epidemiological surveillance, and expanded preventive coverage.