Behm H
Int J Health Serv. 1979;9(1):77-85. doi: 10.2190/P427-YFTV-86LR-GVG6.
The net effect of the rapid population growth in Latin American countries is an increase in the needs for health services. Nevertheless, the demographic factor is not the only nor the most important consideration in determining how to satisfy these demands in the region. The main contradiction lies between the magnitude of needs for services generated by the adverse living conditions prevalling among the majority of the population, together with a restricted supply of health services, the availability of which varies according to social class. The problem of the increasing demand for medical care, generated by the rapid population growth, should be recognized as originating in the socioeconomic structural conditions prevailing in Latin American countries today which determine, simultaneously, low health levels, deficiencies in the provision of health services, and rapid population growth.
拉丁美洲国家人口快速增长的最终结果是对卫生服务的需求增加。然而，人口因素并非决定如何满足该地区这些需求的唯一因素，也不是最重要的考量因素。主要矛盾在于，大多数人口普遍面临的恶劣生活条件所产生的服务需求规模，与卫生服务供应受限之间的矛盾，而卫生服务的可获得性因社会阶层而异。人口快速增长所导致的医疗护理需求不断增加的问题，应被视为源于当今拉丁美洲国家普遍存在的社会经济结构状况，这些状况同时决定了健康水平低下、卫生服务提供不足以及人口快速增长。
