[Differences in living conditions and health between cities: construction of a composite indicator].
OBJECTIVE
To describe an index to identify inequities in living conditions and health and its relationship with health planning.


METHODS
Variables and indicators that would reflect demographic, economic, environment and education processes as well as supply and production of health services were applied for nondimensional scaling and clustering of 5,507 Brazilian municipalities. Data sources were the 2000 Census and the Brazilian Ministry of Health information systems. Z-score test statistic and cluster analysis were performed allowing to defining 4 groups of municipalities by living conditions.


RESULTS
There was seen a polarization between the group with the best living conditions and health (Group 1) and the group with the worst living conditions (Group 4). Group 1 consisted of municipalities with larger populations while Group 4 comprised mainly the smallest municipalities. As for Brazilian macroregions, municipalities in Group 1 are clustered in the south and southeast and those in Group 4 are in the Northeast.


CONCLUSIONS
The living conditions and health index comprises reality dimensions such as housing, environment and health which allows to identifying the most vulnerable municipalities and can provide input for setting priorities, and developing criteria for more equitable financing and resource allocation.
Luiz
Olinda do Carmo
Odo C
Centro de Estudos de Saúde Coletiva, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brasil. olindaca@uol.com.br
Heimann
Luiza Sterman
LS
Boaretto
Roberta Cristina
RC
Pacheco
Adriana Galvão
AG
Pessoto
Umberto Catarino
UC
Ibanhes
Lauro Cesar
LC
Castro
Iracema Ester do Nascimento
IE
Kayano
Jorge
J
Junqueira
Virginia
V
Rocha
Jucilene Leite da
JL
Cortizo
Carlos Tato
CT
Telesi Junior
Emílio
E
D001938:Brazil; D019352:Censuses; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003710:Demography; D004522:Educational Status; D006285:Health Planning; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012924:Social Conditions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors