Abstract

PRIA BARROS, María del Carmen. Design of a methodology for the analysis of the municipal health situation according to the living conditions. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.4. ISSN 0864-2125.

The analysis of the health situation according to the living conditions identifies these conditions and the health gaps existing in the community to optimize the use of the resources in the solution of priority problems. To make it at the municipal level, it was designed a methodology stratifying the municipality, starting from the health areas, and recognizing different health behaviors depending on the living conditions. A study of technological innovation was undertaken to establish indicators that make operative the concept of living conditions given by experts. The statistical techniques were selected to classify health areas by the analysis of sensitivity and specificity, taking as a gold standard the experts' criteria. The indicators and techniques that stand out differential health behaviors and the statistical treatment of small populations were evaluated by the coherence degree between an environment with specific living conditions and the results expected with their application. The methodology uses the comprehensive development index as a technique of classification that apply the living conditions indicators that were selected. The stratification, the triennial indicators, the indirect typing and the group weighted judgement were useful to work with small populations. The categorization, nutrition, morbidity and mortality indexes evidenced differential health behaviors, whereas the difference of rates, the excess of morbimortality and of premature mortality, and the rate of years of potential life lost against standard showed the reducible gaps. This is a simple methodology that utilizes the existing information and that may be used on any municipality of the country with the available resources.

Keywords : Methodology; health situation analysis; living conditions; stratification; differential health behaviors; small populations..