Use of primary care services in a city of Espírito Santo according to sociodemographic profile and health conditions

Abstract

Primary care is the main gateway to the Brazilian public health system and effective access to this service can be assessed by the use of care and not just by availability. Knowledge of the population profile makes it possible to identify groups that are vulnerable to non-use, as well as to know the most prevalente morbidities to promote the organization of the offer and better use of the service. This is a cross-sectional study, whose data source was records of 8,390 e-SUS files, registered in a Family Health Unit (FHU). The prevalence of use of services at the FHU was analyzed, wich included medical and nursing consultations. The sociodemografic and reported morbidity profiles of users and non-users of the FHU in 2019 were compared. The percentage of use of consultations was 50.1% of those registered, with na average of 2.3 consultations per inhabitant per year. Most users made up to five consultations per year, but approximately a third of consultations referred to hyperusers. Being female, being mixed race or black, having a low level of education, older age and not having a private health plan was associated with greater use of consultations.