Social network analysis in the health system: a study of interorganizacional relationships in HIV/AIDS units

Abstract

The coordination of health services, obtained by integration and cooperation between units of a local system, is achieved by understanding interorganizational relationships, identifying central units and dynamics flow, such as patients, information and knowledge. This paper demonstrates the contributions of social network analysis to the health system, identifying patterns and structures in the network of services, through a case study of the HIV/AIDS healthcare units in the city of Porto Alegre - Brazil. Through interviews with those responsible for the care and data from the council, five types of relationships were studied: forwarding and receiving patients, coordination of cases, joint programs and consultancies. The results indicate a weak dynamic in this network, particularly in relationships that do not involve an exchange of patients, suggesting that if there are established instruments such as scheduled appointments, there is greater dynamic in the network, if not, the personal or local initiatives result in little or no action in terms of coordination between services. The social network measures also identify the role of units and the formation of subgroups, and this information could support the local health authority in the formulation of policies and programs for the improvement of local governance.

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