This paper analyzes the mass media campaigns developed by the Mexican Council for AIDS Control and Prevention (CONASIDA) from 1987 to 1994. This paper presents the lessons learned, a discussion of obstacles and mistakes, and the different evaluation methods which have been used in CONASIDA'S mass media communication strategies and their results. Knowing the opinion of some clue informants was considered relevant--taking into account that evaluations were made by and at CONASIDA--and seven in-depth interviews were conducted among intellectuals, non-governmental organizations (NGO) leaders and public opinion leaders. The importance of society's involvement in AIDS prevention is stated, and two examples of mass media campaigns developed by civil groups are commented. A section about the importance of research as a requisite to produce preventive messages is included, along with some examples. Finally, some conclusions are presented, useful to us, as well as others, in developing new educational campaigns.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Response of the authors to the comments on "12 years of AIDS in Mexico" special issue].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[From "how many" to "why": the utilization of health services from the perspective of the users].

Parallel to the National Health Survey-II, in 1994 a qualitative study was conducted on the patterns and microsocial determinants of health services utilization. The study was conducted in eight urban areas from all over the country among middle class and middle-low class sectors. A total of 192 individual open-ended interviews and eight focus groups were completed among users of health services; 61 service providers both from public and private services were also interviewed. This paper reports the main findings regarding the users' perspective. The first part summarizes the conceptual and methodological design. The second part presents the results from the users' point of view. Individuals distinguish between "becoming sick" and "falling sick"; preventive measures are adopted when becoming sick, in order to avoid falling sick. Another finding refers to the population tendency to add up different and even contradictory curative paradigms, as opposed to the modern medical paradigm which tends to exclude any competing alternative knowledge. A third series of findings refers to the dilemmas that utilizing health services poses for the population, given the high costs, and the low quality that characterize these services, according to the users' point of view. This paper concludes with a series of recommendations for policies, aimed at improving the quality of the health services provided to the population.

Health Behavior↗

PubMedDate not supplied

["We do what we can": health service providers facing the utilization problem].

This study presents the second part of the general results obtained by a qualitative study conducted within the National Health Survey II. The object of this study was to identify main patterns and micro-social determinants which affect the process of selection and utilization of health services in order to propose policies aimed at more equity, quality and efficiency in health service delivery. The study was conducted in urban areas among the middle and middle-low class sectors. A total of 192 individual open-ended interviews and eight focus groups were completed among health users in four cities. Also, 61 service providers both from public and private services were interviewed. Since a previous work reported findings related to health service users, this study focuses only on the results pertaining to health service providers. The first part briefly discusses the study design which allowed to explore the meaning that actors--health service providers--attach to their job and working conditions. The second part presents the main findings. The sense of economic and material precariousness with which health providers from public institutions do their work is among the most important results. Common conflicts between health service users and providers are also mentioned, mainly those which arise from the organizational problems of the health center and from the scarcity of the basic drug stock. The third part reports the main coincidences and divergences between health service users and providers. Some of the divergences may be the reason for the under-utilization of health services. The work concludes with a series of policy recommendations aimed at improving the quality and opportunity of health services provided by public institutions for the needs of the population.

Delivery of Health Care↗