title: [Qualitative health research: a critical review of recent work in Mexico].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper critically examines recent work on qualitative health research (QHR) in Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review was conducted of 128 articles published between 2000 and 2009. A literature search was done drawing together a verse of indexes, search engine, data bases and citations, as well as interviewing researchers. A frequency and content analysis was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QHR has expanded significantly, both nationally and internationally, and papers published in public health and social medicine journals. However, several factors impede its consolidation: the institutional, territorial and thematic concentration of studies, the dependency on grounded theory, the selective nature of the research topics and populations; and its marginal scientific impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QHR has grown in México, but its consolidation faces serious challenges. Several proposals are discussed that could strengthen the field.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México. Francisco.mercado@cucs.udg.mx
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Mercado-Martínez
authors.forename: Blanca A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Luz María
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Tejada-Tabayas
authors.forename: Carlos D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ascencio-Mera
mesh_terms: D015706:Bibliometrics; D008800:Mexico; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*