Children's Health in Brazil: orienting basic network to Primary Health Care.

Simone Soares Damasceno,Vanessa Medeiros Da Nóbrega,Beatriz Rosana Gonçalves De Oliveira Toso,Neusa Collet,Altamira Pereira Da Silva Reichert,Simone Elizabeth Duarte Coutinho

doi:10.1590/1413-81232015219.25002015

Simone Soares Damasceno, Vanessa Medeiros Da Nóbrega + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015219.25002015

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Abstract

This is an integrative literature review that analyzed the scientific knowledge produced on the orientation of Brazilian basic care services to primary health care focusing on child health. Searches were carried out in SciELO, Lilacs and Medline databases using descriptors "primary health care", "family health program", "child health" and "evaluation of health services". Studies published in Portuguese, English and Spanish between 2000 and 2013 were selected. A total of 32 studies were chosen and characterized in relation to the features of primary health care, region of the country, type of study and authors' practice area. A thematic review of studies was conducted and resulted in two categories: child care in the context of Brazilian primary health care and primary health care features: limitations to child care. It can be understood that Brazilian primary health care services are heterogeneous regarding the presence and scope of essential child care characteristics. There is a lack of structural and process changes in the services to substantially plan child care actions in basic care.

Highlights

Primary Health Care (PHC) in the most comprehensive and contemporary design can be understood as a health care system reorganization strategy
The analysis of studies included in this integrative review explains that Brazilian primary health care services are heterogeneous regarding the presence and extent of PHC attributes in child health care, determining the low orientation of these services to PHC
It is noteworthy that studies with a 10-year time frame were selected and, during this period, different contexts of public health policies were reflected in child care, which led to changes in the structure and organization of constantly evolving health services

Summary

Introduction

Primary Health Care (PHC) in the most comprehensive and contemporary design can be understood as a health care system reorganization strategy From this understanding, PHC plays a unique role with the potential to reorder health system’s resources to meet the demands of the population, a condition that involves considering it as coordinating part of a Health Care Network (RAS)[1]. The document points out strategies and devices for the articulation of activities and health services to facilitate their implementation by state / municipal management and health professionals From this perspective, the PNAISC is organized from health care networks and its strategic lines, in which PHC is recognized as a coordinator of child care and central point of this process. The strategic lines that stand out are: breastfeeding and healthy complementary nutrition; promoting and monitoring comprehensive growth and development; care for children with infancy-prevalent illnesses and chronic diseases; health care for children with disabilities or in specific and vulnerable situations; surveillance and prevention of child, fetal and maternal death[3]

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