Abstract

SILBERMAN, Martín; MORENO ALTAMIRANO, Laura; KAWAS BUSTAMANTE, Víctor  and  GONZALEZ ALMADA, Eugenio. Social determinants in the health of Mexico City's public health service users. Rev. Fac. Med. (Méx.) [online]. 2013, vol.56, n.4, pp.24-34. ISSN 2448-4865.

For more than 20 years, the social determinants of health have been increasingly emphasized; by describing the social conditions in which people live and work; which affect health either positively or negatively. Lifestyle, the environment, as well as human biology and the organization of health services are currently considered people's main health determinants. The present study was performed in Alvaro Obregon's health district, Mexico City, in order to know the socio-economical conditions of houses and the health situation of each person living in such house. Surveys were applied to 1331 homes within a three-week period. The main data found were: 19.4% houses have sheet roof; overcrowding was found in 11.8%, and 2.7% houses have no access to drinking water. As for education: 38% individuals who should be at school are not enrolled; while out of 2903, 31% did not finish primary school, and 7.7% are illiterate. 41 women were pregnant, six with no medical surveillance, 283 diabetic people (33 with no medical care), 307 hypertensive (52 with no medical care), 109 handicapped (94 with no medical care), 138 alcohol addicts, and 115 drug addicts. Based on these data, houses were classified according to the health risk they represent. A health-service reorganization program was started, which improved, discreetly but effectively, the risk of the houses studied and of their inhabitants. We conclude that it is essential to include the assessment of health social conditions in any program aiming at improving the health conditions in a community.

Keywords : Social determinants of health; health services; Álvaro Obregon district.