[Does the lack of availability of information represent a bottleneck for research and evaluation in health policy?].
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the difficulties encountered in obtaining information about health services, sanitation and health insurance coverage supply, use and coverage regarding a sample of Colombian municipalities during 1991-2000. The availability of information is also analysed in terms of decentralisation and municipal development.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of a random stratified sample of 495 Colombian municipalities; information regarding the variables of interest was requested at municipal and departmental level and from national sources. A scale was constructed for measuring the availability of information at local level. Non-parametric statistics were used for testing differences in availability of information in terms of certification and municipal category.


RESULTS
Applying the scale revealed 51% availability of data regarding health service supply, 39% for data regarding service use and 45% for both types of information (supply and demand taken together). No information was available in 32% of the municipalities. Information was more readily available in non-certified and less developed municipalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Study findings provided indirect evidence of difficulty in obtaining information regarding health systems at both municipal and departmental levels; this represents an important obstacle for health system management and evaluating performance, as well as for research and widening knowledge (and availability to such knowledge) in this area.
Granada
Alberto
A
Coomeva Medicina Prepagada, Cali. algradal@telesat.com.co
Estrada
Victoria E
VE
Pinto
Diana
D
Borrero
Elizabeth
E
Carrasquilla
Gabriel
G
D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009111:Local Government; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*