[Diagnosing community health by factorial analysis].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the needs of medical care and to determine priorities in the delivery of health services by the factorial analysis of the health indicators obtained from study of the demographic, economic and family features of those registered at a Primary Care Centre.


METHODS
Descriptive and crossover.


METHODS
Tlalpan area, Federal District, Mexico, divided into geo-statistical zones. Patients and other participants. A randomised sample of 590 dwellings, with proportional coverage, based on 173,000 inhabitants and 17,895 ordinary dwellings.


METHODS
Survey conducted in the home (April-July, 1993).


RESULTS
16 health markers were classified into four categories, demographic, social, health-damaging and family. Nine markers with a reading on the Pearson's correlation index over 0.40 were chosen. Factorial analysis determined two main factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of the main risk factors by means of factorial analysis helped in diagnosing community health. A project needs to be worked out to define a methodology for studying medically dysfunctional families and to introduce a prevention and early diagnosis programme for Diabetes Mellitus.
Irigoyen Coria
A
A
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF.
Ponce Rosas
E R
ER
Dickinson Bannack
M E
ME
Rodríguez León
M A
MA
Gómez Clavelina
F J
FJ
Kahan
E
E
Mora Sánchez
J
J
González Salinas
C
C
D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011320:Primary Health Care