Methodology for the study of inequities in health conditions.

In recent years, the Pan American Health Organization has collaborated with Member Countries to promote the development of systems for evaluating and monitoring the health situation of different population groups based on living conditions. The main objective is to identify and adapt practical options that are economically and technically viable to strengthen the countries' capabilities to analyze the health situation and to evaluate emergent changes and trends taking into consideration existing disparities and inequalities. Preliminary results of initial studies have stimulated the interest of the authorities since they represent a feasible approach for analyzing national and local level experiences. In certain cases, an analysis of the health situation was done and in others there were projects to monitor priority problems. This article presents some methodological considerations for a study of inequalities in health conditions with emphasis on the use of secondary information for the identification of problems; other applications, such as monitoring and management of local health services are not discussed.