Ecuador, located in South America, has a population of 13 million inhabitants. Although an oil exporter, it is still one of the poorest countries in the region. This is mainly because of inequity in the country's distribution of resources. Twenty six percent of all children under five years of age nationwide have stunted growth; in rural areas, the figure is 31 percent, and in indigenous communities it reaches 47 percent. It is reported that approximately 61 percent of the population lives in poverty.

Anconcito is a small town in the Province of Santa Elena, two hours west of Guayaquil on the outermost peninsula of the country. Recent emigration of fishermen from other coastal regions of Ecuador has created a major strain on Anconcito’s already limited infrastructure.

In Anconcito, a small government-sponsored clinic serves a population of over 14,000 people. Appointments must be made ahead of time by phone and are generally granted 2-3 months from the time the appointment is requested. The clinic is open from 8am-4pm, so if any medical emergencies arise after hours people must take private transportation to the nearest public hospital over 15 km away. The clinic employs an obstetrician and a dentist, but for other specialists one must again travel to the nearest public hospital at his or her own expense.

Because the clinic is so understaffed, they have limited resources and time to focus on health promotion and preventative medicine. The most common medical issues affecting the population are readily treatable with preventative measures, education initiatives and continuous healthcare monitoring: type 2 diabetes, respiratory infections, diarrhea due to improper food and water sanitation, malnutrition, unplanned pregnancies, and drug and alcohol addiction. Social problems also persist, compounding the existing health issues - domestic violence and underemployment are rampant.