Vulnerability of families of elderly citizens cared for by the Family Health Strategy.

Rosely Almeida Souza,Márcia Regina Martins Alvarenga,Cintia Hitomi Yamashita,Fernanda Amendola,Tharsila Martins Rios Silva,Maria Amélia De Campos Oliveira

doi:10.1590/0034-7167.2015680209i

Abstract

the present descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional study aimed to identify the vulnerability of families of elderly citizens cared for by the Family Health Strategy (FHS). the research employed home interviews and was developed with a sample of 500 families of aged people cared for by 32 FHS teams in the city of Dourados, MS, Brazil. The Family Development Index (FDI) was adapted in order to classify the families according to their degree of vulnerability. the results revealed the presence of multigenerational families with low educational levels among individuals over the age of 20 and high illiteracy rates among elderly citizens. There were 403 families whose vulnerability was acceptable, 95 in severe vulnerability, and two families in a condition of very severe vulnerability. The most critical dimensions of the FDI were the access to knowledge and to work. the study identified that there is still a need for further investments that can assist these aged people and their families in the Primary Health Care.

Highlights

The surveillance of the life and health conditions of families in a given territory, especially those in vulnerable conditions, is part of the healthcare surveillance practices in Primary Care (PC) services
In Brazil, enhancement of life expectancy and the consequent increase in the number of senior citizens have not been accompanied by public policies capable of altering the life and health conditions of this populational group
The country has not been able to quickly follow up the reversed trend in the age pyramid, and as such has to cope with critical healthcare challenges aimed at ensuring the quality of life of aged people

Summary

Introduction

The surveillance of the life and health conditions of families in a given territory, especially those in vulnerable conditions, is part of the healthcare surveillance practices in Primary Care (PC) services. Vulnerability stands out as a phenomenon that affects families in a broad sense, and may restrict their access to healthcare opportunities to varying degrees. Such status is bound to income needs, and involves life conditions, access to education and work, and housing quality (including its location), among several other factors related to access to all of the necessary opportunities for a decent life(2). Programmatic vulnerability refers to the necessary social resources for the protection of individuals against risks to their integrity and physical, psychological, and social wellbeing(3)

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion