RESUMEN
A method is described for developing a health situation index based on an analysis of factors combined with conjoint analysis. First, the principal components analysis is used to identify the relevant attributes-i.e., those indicators on which the overall index is to be based. Then a group of experts, public health physicians in this case, meet in front of a computer terminal and conduct an interactive assessment of multiattribute preferences. The computer program presents pairs of attributes for comparison, and the experts make judgements of preference or nonpreference; in this way, the weight of each indicator is determined. After a sufficient number of comparisons have been made, the software calculates the weights, which are a coherent reflection of the assessment made by the group of experts and will constitute the value function thereof. The resulting health index makes it possible to draw comparisons between human groups, to arrange them in order, and to identify those groups that require greater attention. The method was used, for example, to establish the health index for the 13 regions of Chile during the period 1977-1983. This method could be applied to more specific áreas, such as maternal and child health or health of adults. Its characteristics are such that it can be adapted to the individual situation in each country