Atención de emergencias obstétricas en Chiapas, México. Caminando hacia la conformación de redes

Responses to the systemic limitations of health care in Mexico have included public policies for universal access implemented through inter-institutional agreements. Those focused on emergency obstetric care are a vivid example of these efforts. Based on a case study, this article describes a general picture of the ways in which health-service networks operate in the state of Chiapas. We review their infrastructure and analyze their capacity to respond to obstetric emergencies. We also assess the current condition of these networks in terms of being able to function as a collaborative network. Our findings demonstrate that public institutions in the Mexican health sector have made little or no use of the benefits offered by inter-institutional agreements, and identify the strengths and obstacles in their utilization. The results of our research can help optimize obstetric care for women in Chiapas.