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International Journal for Equity in Health
Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Care | Research

Barriers to access and organization of primary health care services for rural riverside populations in the Amazon

Authors: Luiza Garnelo, Rosana Cristina Pereira Parente, Maria Laura Rezende Puchiarelli, Priscilla Cabral Correia, Matheus Vasconcelos Torres, Fernando José Herkrath

Published in: International Journal for Equity in Health | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The ways of life in the Amazon are diverse and not widely known. In addition, social inequities, large geographic distances and inadequate health care network noticeably limit access to health services in rural areas. Over the last decades, Brazilian health authorities have implemented fluvial mobile units (FMU) as an alternative to increase access and healthcare coverage. The aim of the study was to identify the strategies of access and utilization of primary health care (PHC) services by assessing the strengths and limitations of the healthcare model offered by the FMU to reduce barriers to services and ensure the right to healthcare.

Methods

Qualitative and ethnographic research involving participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Data collection consisted of interviews with users and health professionals and the observation of service organization and healthcare delivered by the FMU, in addition to the therapeutic itineraries that determine demand, access and interaction of users with healthcare services.

Results

Primary care is offered by the monthly locomotion of the FMU that serves approximately 20 rural riverside communities. The effectiveness of the actions of the FMU proved to be adequate for conditions such as antenatal care for low-risk pregnancy, which require periodic consultations. However, conditions that require continued attention are not adequately met through the organization of care established in the FMU. The underutilization of the workforce of community health workers and disarrangement between their tasks and those of the rest of the multi-professional team are some of the reasons pointed out, making the healthcare continuity unfeasible within the intervals between the trips of the FMU. From the users’ perspective, although the presence of the FMU provides healthcare coverage, the financial burden generated by the pursuit for services persists, since the dispersed housing pattern requires the locomotion of users to reach the mobile unit services as well as for specialized care in the urban centers.

Conclusions

The implementation of the FMU represents an advance in terms of accessibility to PHC. However, the organization of their activity uncritically replicates the routines adopted in the daily routine of health services located in urban spaces, proving to be inadequate for providing healthcare strategies capable of mitigating social and health inequalities faced by the users.
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Metadata
Title
Barriers to access and organization of primary health care services for rural riverside populations in the Amazon
Authors
Luiza Garnelo
Rosana Cristina Pereira Parente
Maria Laura Rezende Puchiarelli
Priscilla Cabral Correia
Matheus Vasconcelos Torres
Fernando José Herkrath
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Care
Published in
International Journal for Equity in Health / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1475-9276
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-020-01171-x

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