[Regionalization in health: an instrument for jurisdictional planning]

This study carried out the regionalization of Sanitary Jurisdiction No. III seated in Cuautla, Morelos, consisting of 16 of a total of 33 municipalities in the state of Morelos. This regionalization was carried out through the delination of areas sharing similar socioeconomical and demographic characteristics (SED). Subsequently, the major health hazards and the intraregional distribution of human health resources (physicians and nurses) and infrastructure services (institutional health centers) were identified for each region. The aim of this work was to devise an instrument for a better understanding of and approach to health problems at a juridictional level and to pave the way for health planning that would be congruent with regional characteristics and needs. Health sector efforts would be directed towards the promotion of preventive health care with greater efficiency and equity. In order to regionalize the jurisdiction, 17 SED indicators were studied in each of the 16 municipalities. Analysis was performed using the Principal Components Method (MCP) and an epidemiologic score. As a result, the sanitary jurisdiction was divided into three regions: Region I, with the best SED conditions, Region II, with moderate SED conditions and Region III with the lowest SED conditions. The results of this study show that there is an inverse relationship between the intraregional distribution of health resources with respect to the delineated regions and the health resources with respect to the delineated regions and the health needs and problems found in each one. Region III showed the worst SED conditions and the highest incidence of disease. It proved to be the region which had the greatest lack of material and human health resources, the latter having the lowest technical training level in all of the jurisdiction. In contrast. Region I had the best SED conditions and the lowest incidence of disease. It also had the highest number of material and human health resources, the latter having a high level of preparation. This situation is opposite to the national health policies in regards to equity "...give more benefits to the more vulnerable groups..."