Primary healthcare in rural settlementsand quilombola communities in Brazil

Abstract

Thisstudyaimedtoanalyzetheway in which Primary Careserviceshavebeenorganized in Brazil for thepopulation living in areasof rural settlementsand quilombola communities. Thiswas a cross-sectionalstudy, using a quantitative design andinformationfrommicrodataoftheexternal assessment processoftheNationalProgramme for ImprovementofQualityand Access to Primary Care (PMAQ). It wasobservedthatsettlements are mostlyconcentrated in the North andNortheastregions, whereas quilombola communities are more frequent in theNortheastandSoutheastregions. Basic Care (ESF and NASF) teamshavelimitedreachtotheseplaces. It wasidentified a situationofexclusionandinequitythatisassociatedwiththeabsenceofcoordination in careandofordainingofthecareflowregarding rural andortraditionalpopulations. It isconcludedthatthesepopulations, especiallythose in quilombola communities, face manyobstaclesand are still excludedfrombasichealthcare. Therefore, it isnecessarytoinvest in restructuringthework procedures and in wideningthecapacityoftheteamsandthesustainabilityofthe links betweenprofessionalsandpatients.