Equitable access to health services for children aged 5 to 9 in a medium city of northeasth of Brazil: a result of Family Health Strategy

• Published in: Revista brasileira de epidemiologia 2014, Vol.17 Suppl 2 (suppl 2), p.39-52
• Main Authors: de Santiago, Adriana Xavier, Barreto, Ivana Cristina de Holanda Cunha, Sucupira, Ana Cecília Silveira Lins, Lima, José Wellington de Oliveira, de Andrade, Luiz Odorico Monteiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acesso aos serviços de saúde; Brazil; Child; Child Health Services - statistics & numerical data; Child Health Services - utilization; Child, Preschool; Determinantes sociais de saúde; Equidade; Family Health; Female; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Saúde da Família; Serviços de Saúde da Criança; Serviços de saúde/utilização; Urban Health
• ISSN: 1415-790X; 1980-5497; 1980-5497; 1415-790X
• DOI: 10.1590/1809-4503201400060004

The Brazilian National Health System may reduce inequalities in access to health services through strategies that can reach those most in need with no access to care services. To identify factors associated with the use of health service by children aged 5 to 9 years in the city of Sobral, Ceará, northeastern Brazil. Only 558 (17.0%) children used health care services in the 30 days preceding this survey. Children with any health condition (OR = 3.90) who were frequent attenders of primary care strategy of organization (the Family Health Strategy, FHS) (OR = 1.81) and living in the city's urban area (OR = 1.51) were more likely to use health services. Almost 80% of children used FHS as their referral care service. Children from poorer families and with easier access to services were more likely to be FHS users. The study showed that access to health services has been relatively equitable through the FHS, a point of entry to the local health system.