Acesso a Unidades Básicas de Saúde no município de Pelotas/Rio Grande do Sul : Access to Primary Health Care Units in the city of Pelotas/Rio Grande do Sul

Maria Michelle Ferreira Rodrigues; Pietra de Matos Freitas; Manuela  Trindade da Silva; Nicolly   Ascenço; Giorgia Labatut; Katarina  Bender Boteselle; Lia  Caroline Araujo Robaina; Jaqueline Yonara da Silva Galhardo; Shiren  Fathi Yusef Bakri; Leticia  Oliveira de Menezes

doi:10.18310/2446-4813.2024v10n1.4171

Authors

Maria Michelle Ferreira Rodrigues Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0315-406X
Pietra de Matos Freitas Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8473-1374
Manuela Trindade da Silva Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8972-1792
Nicolly Ascenço Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3448-8468
Giorgia Labatut Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0418-8517
Katarina Bender Boteselle Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8214-0562
Lia Caroline Araujo Robaina Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2449-8523
Jaqueline Yonara da Silva Galhardo Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8447-9570
Shiren Fathi Yusef Bakri Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4829-6424
Leticia Oliveira de Menezes Universidade Católica de Pelotas https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5393-8770

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18310/2446-4813.2024v10n1.4171

Abstract

This article’s objective is to analyse the flow of access to Primary Health Units in the city of Pelotas/RS, in the year 2022. Methodology: Qualitative, observational, exploratory and descriptive study, carried out through data collection at the Municipal Department of Health, and search in reference databases. Results: The city of Pelotas, in 2022, had 51 Primary Heath Units covered by 100 health teams. Regarding opening hours, 90% of the units in the city operated during business hours and only 10% during extended hours. As for territorialization, the city was in the process of adhering to a new population policy, having, at the time of the study, 45 of its units with their designated population area. In addition, in recent years, a “open door” system has been implemented as a form of first aid. Conclusions: Regarding the object of study - access -, it was seen that the main barrier is the opening hours of the units. The change in the form of care, implementing the “open door”, was visibly beneficial to the population, allowing broad entry to public health care. There were also some gaps that could prevent individuals from having full access, such as the lack of some professionals in the units and the fragmentation of the system, the latter of which can be solved with incentives and investment in technology, in favor of the integration of services.