[Use of outpatient services by the elderly in the South and Northeast of Brazil].

Autor: Rodrigues MA; Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil. rodriguesmapa@terra.com.br, Facchini LA, Piccini RX, Tomasi E, Thumé E, Silveira DS, Paniz VM, Siqueira FV
Jazyk: portugalština
Zdroj: Cadernos de saude publica [Cad Saude Publica] 2008 Oct; Vol. 24 (10), pp. 2267-78.
DOI: 10.1590/s0102-311x2008001000008
Abstrakt: This study evaluated the use of outpatient services by senior citizens (N = 4,003) drawing on data from the baseline study that evaluated the Project for Expansion and Consolidation of the Family Health Strategy (PROESF) in 41 cities in South and Northeast Brazil. Use of outpatient services was greater and more appropriate to the needs of the elderly in the South than in the Northeast. Primary care facilities in both regions met the demand by lower-income elderly, but those requiring more care were treated at other levels. The results highlight the need to increase the supply of outpatient services and ensure access by the elderly, particularly for individuals with functional impairments in the Northeast. In addition to promoting equity, primary care in both regions should adopt targeted approaches for the health needs of senior citizens.
Databáze: MEDLINE