Violation of the right to health from an environmental perspective in the Ibarra canton

Abstract

The environment currently faces a complex and multifaceted crisis, characterized by interconnected challenges that threaten the health of the planet and human well-being. The Ecuadorian state, in its Constitution and other legal norms, refers to environmental management, taking into account environmental law and the right to health based on a healthy and balanced environment. However, as levels of prioritization decrease, there is greater non-compliance with these regulations. This study aimed at determining whether there exists a violation of the right to health in Ecuador from Ibarra Canton's perspective. A mixed-methods approach was employed for this research. Documents and legal norms were analyzed. A questionnaire was applied to 274 people in Ibarra Canton who gave their consent to be surveyed. A simple correspondence analysis was performed; four variables were considered based on the questionnaire, determining that age influences perceptions about environmental management. It was found that there is a violation of the right to health in Ibarra Canton. Actions are proposed to raise awareness among both decision-makers and other community members in the canton based on their characteristics.