GEOGRAPHICAL ACCESSIBILITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN A RURAL POPULATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AYACUCHO (PERU)

Cisneros A.A.; Perpinyà A.B. · Romanian Journal of Geography (2026) · DOI: 10.59277/rrg.2026.1.03

Resumen

Geographical accessibility in rural areas is a determining factor for rural development and a key element in improving the quality of life of the population. This article aims to quantify travel time, both on foot and by motor vehicle, from homes to the main basic services in Ayacucho, Peru. To this end, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used as a methodological tool to analyse accessibility networks, which made it possible to identify the access difficulties faced by certain populations. Through the geographical location of households and services, as well as GIS data processing, the distances and travel times needed to access health centres, municipalities, markets, pharmacies, banks, medical centres, and primary and secondary education institutions were evaluated. The results showed that 12% of households need more than 6 hours round trip to access main services on foot, a time that far exceeds acceptable standards, which is a clear sign of isolation and inequality in rural contexts. On the other hand, it was found that 13% of households record an average driving time of 40 minutes, which, although higher than the standard of 30 minutes, is considered relatively normal given the conditions of the rural environment.