Metodología para la caracterización de una red de servicios de salud y su aplicación en el contexto ecuatoriano

introduction the paho/who initiative for the integrated health service networks with the objective of contributing to the development of primary health care-based health systems is part of the response to the challenge of fragmentation existing in the latin american scenario. objectives creation and validation of a methodology to diagnose failures in the integration of a health service network, and thus to prepare the way to attain this goal. methods a developmental research work that allowed creating a methodology to be applied in two stages: one diagnostic and the other as intervention design. the first stage used qualitative techniques to characterize a health service network whereas the second one applied strategic planning techniques to make the design of a road map for integration. both phases were developed in ecuadorean regions. results the steps for the creation of the two phases of methodology, the instruments used and the construction of a health service network integration index were presented. conclusions a methodology for the characterization and evaluation of and the intervention in a health service network was presented in order to improve the levels of integration reached at a given time.