Urban indicators, definitions and summary statistics of the study area (n=330 wards)
| Dimension/ indicators | Definitions | Scale/category | Summary statistics |
| Demographic | |||
| Population size | The total number of people residing in a census ward. | Number of individuals | Mean=580 SD*=2360 Range=36–29 356 |
| Population density | Number of people residing in a census ward divided by the land area of the same ward. | Number of individuals per km2 | Mean=332 Range=1.5–4899 SD=924 |
| Socioeconomics | |||
| Non-agriculture activities | Number of people>18 years working in non-agricultural activities divided by the total number of people>18 years residing in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=28.9 Range=0–98.2 SD=19.1 |
| Secondary education | Number of people>18 years that have finished secondary education divided by the total number of people>18 years residing in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=13 Range=0–43 SD=7.4 |
| Commercial activities | Number of people>18 years working in commercial activities divided by the total number of people>18 years residing in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=9 Range=0–52 SD=9.5 |
| Concrete housing | Number of households building with iron roof and concrete walls and floors divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=30 Range=0–77 SD=18 |
| Mobile phone access | Number of households with access to mobile phones divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=71 Range=19–97 SD=12.9 |
| Internet access | Number of households with access to internet divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=2 Range=0–13 SD=2.5 |
| Computer access | Number of households with access to computers divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=4 Range=0–28 SD=4.6 |
| Satellite TV access | Number of households with access to satellite TV divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=3 Range=0–66 SD=7.4 |
| Built environment | |||
| Pavement streets | Number of households with access to paved streets divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=8 Range=0–78 SD=15.7 |
| Sewage system | Number of households with access to sewage system divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=2 Range=0–74 SD=7.2 |
| Electricity | Number of households with access to the electricity grid divided by the total number of households in a census ward. | Percentage | Mean=78 Range=0–100 SD=22.6 |
| Educational institutions | Number of educational institutions (primary and secondary education) present in a census ward. | Number of schools | Mean=1 Range=0–21 SD=2 |
| Health facilities | Presence of health facilities in a census ward as health centres and hospitals. | None Health centres Hospital | n (%)=305 (92) n (%)=23(7) n (%)=2 (1) |
| Road connectivity | Presence of the National Highway in the ward. | No Yes | n (%)=221 (67) n (%)=109(33) |
| Geographic | |||
| Geographical division | Geographical separations of the territory based on population settlement area and other sociodemographic characteristics. Wards divisions are delimited and classified by INEC.13 | Countryside Community Town City | n (%)=292 (88) n (%)=30(9) n (%)=5 (2) n (%)=3 (1) |
| Urban closeness | Proximity of the wards with respect to cities. Classified as Urban, wards that contain cities; Periphery, wards located next to the cities; Distant, wards with no boundaries with the Cities. | Urban Periphery Distant | n (%)=4 (2) n (%)=55(17) n (%)=271 (81) |
INEC, National Institute of Statistical and Census of Ecuador; SD, Standard Deviation.