Abstract
Despite rural women's increased risk of dying due to pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium related causes, investigations usually only pay scarce attention to the variable 'rurality'. Thus, we conducted a qualitative research comparing three case studies aiming to identify, describe and analyse geographical, economic and administrative barriers that limit the access of rural women to public maternal health care. Three territories located in different provinces in the northern region of Argentina were selected: the municipality of Goya (province of Corrientes), the municipality of Dos Arroyos (province of Misiones) and the commune of Ranchillos (province of Tucumán). Fifteen interviews were carried out in each case study, mainly with rural women and physicians that provide maternal health care to them. The interviews were typed and their text categorized using the topics expressed in the objectives of this research. We conclude that there are a set of interrelated geographical, economic and administrative barriers limiting maternal health care accessibility in rural areas.
Health Services Accessibility; Maternal Health Services; Rural Population; Women's Health; Maternal Mortality