Health service use in a population covered by the Estratégia de Saúde da Família (Family Health Strategy).
OBJECTIVE
To analyze health service use patterns in communities covered by the Estratégia de Saúde da Família (Family Health Strategy).


METHODS
Population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 2,988 individuals, of all ages, living in areas covered by the Estratégia de Saúde da Família, in the city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, between July and September 2003. Pre-coded questionnaires about demographic, socioeconomic and health information were applied to all residents of selected households. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and chi-square tests were applied in the analyses. Poisson regression was used in the multivariable analysis to control for potential confounding factors.


RESULTS
Females, persons aged 60 years or older, white, with better socioeconomic level, without health care plan coverage and with poor health self-perception were more likely to use the local family health unit. Regarding users of other health services, a similar pattern for sex, age and health self-perception was observed. However, greater use was found among people with better socioeconomic level and with health care plan coverage.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of a local family health unit was greater among people from a lower socioeconomic level and without health care plan coverage, revealing the poorer individuals to be the priority of governmental actions. Model changes made to health care with the implementation of the Estratégia Saúde da Família tend to progressively improve the health conditions of the poorer population, with consequent reduction of health inequalities.
Fernandes
Léia Cristiane L
LC
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil.
Bertoldi
Andréa D
AD
Barros
Aluísio J D
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult