Approach to health of the microentrepreneurs of the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this research is to present the results of the Microntrepreneurs’s health module survey of the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga in 2012, seeking an approach to the measurement of health status and its importance to the actions and public policies for the productive sector of the city.  Metodology: The methodological approach was the Assets, Vulnerability and Structure of Opportunities (AVSO) and health module was designed with the aid of methodologies such as the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), EuroQol 5D, and RAND, validated by authors like Foot, Roberts and Stansfeld; and Johnson and Pickard. Results: The survey allowed to measure the subjective health status of micro entrepreneurs where 30% were located in excellent condition, 17% very good, 39% in good, 12% regular, and 2% on a bad health. 25.5% of entrepreneurs said that they had to reduce the time dedicated to their work during the last month because of physical or emotional health issues. We also found that 48% of respondents mentioned that their work has affected their health over time. Conclusion: The results indicate the need to integrate health variable in public and private policies for the productive sector, targeting the reduction of constraints to work on daily activities, prevention of occupational diseases and the treatment of long-term illness and derivatives of aging.[Guerrero-Rincón AA, Alfonso- Ruiz CL. Approach to health of the microentrepreneurs of the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga. MedUNAB 2014; 17(1): 13-22]