[Explanatory models on the utilization of health services: a review and analysis].

The present article begins with a conceptual review of the models which have been developed for the analysis of health services utilization. The models are: epidemiological, psychosocial, sociological and economic. The stages and/or determining factors in the procedure of health services use, are described and a cross study is made with each model by means of a contingency matrix. The starting point for the search of a model that enables (in a complete and unisolated way) the identification of the determinant factors in health service use is the cross analysis of the models under investigation. This cross analysis is also taken as a conceptual framework of reference in the unfolding investigation.