OBJECTIVE:

To describe the characteristics of access to health services for riverside dwellers in the Municipality of Coari, Amazonas State, Brazil.

METHODS:

Descriptive, cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted with riverside dwellers in the rural area of Coari, from April to July 2015. The interviews were conducted using a previously prepared questionnaire. Socioeconomic, demographic and access to health services variables were used. The probabilistic sample by clusters was composed of 492 subjects.

RESULTS:

More than half (54.9%) of the riverside inhabitants used small wooden boats to access health services, sailing the average of 60 km and of 4.2 h travel time. The health service most sought by those populations was hospital (65.0%), followed by Basic Health Unit (26.6%), and pharmacies (5.4%). About one in four riverside dwellers (22.2%) stated that they tried unsuccessfully to book a medical appointment, with the main reasons being there were no appointments available (57.8%), the lack of professionals to assist them (28.4%), and the delay to get appointments (13.8%).

CONCLUSION:

The access to health services for riverside dwellers is limited, especially by geographical barriers. It is necessary to articulate strategies that promote access to health services, enabling the continuity of health care to this population.

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