Saberes y decires acerca del Seguro Popular. Un estudio en centros de Primer Nivel de Atención de la Ciudad de México

Abstract

Introduction. The Popular Health Insurance has developed a set of knowledge, ideas and myths. Since health employees have become the direct operator of the insurance and patients the main beneficiaries, it is useful to know the perception of both about this Insurance. Objective. To analize the social representations about the Popular Health Insurance maintain by health employees and patients in Primary Care Centers. Material and methods. In Mexico City, 117 people coming from 16 Health Centers, were interviewed. We used a guide that addressed issues related to the services provided by the Popular Health Insurance. Data was analyzed using a significant classification technique, which involves placing the contents of each interview in mutually exclusive categories. Results. Respondents thought that Popular Health Insurance is a kind of government assistance, and they use to identify it with a political party. The most frequent sources of information are the electronic media. Once implemented the Insurance, it had led a series of misunderstandings between patients and health employees. Conclusion. Both myths and ideas about Popular Health Insurance are shared by health employees and patients, and both have influence on care as well the Insurance operation.