title: [Factors associated with geographic access to health services by TB patients in three State capitals in Northeast Brazil].
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with geographic access to health services by tuberculosis patients in three State capitals in Northeast Brazil. The sample consisted of new tuberculosis cases reported in 2007. The study used data from the Information System on Notifiable Diseases and the National Registry of Healthcare Organizations. Addresses of households and health services were geocoded, and difficult access was defined as a distance greater than 800 meters from the household to the health service. Crude prevalence ratios were estimated, as well as adjusted prevalence ratios using Poisson regression. After adjusting the study variables, the only variable that remained associated with difficult access was primary healthcare units in Salvador, Bahia State (PR = 0.75; 95%CI: 0.720-0.794) and in Recife, Pernambuco State (PR = 0.402; 95%CI: 0.318-0.508). The study concluded that decentralization of primary care can help improve access to health services.
authors.forename: Márcia São Pedro Leal
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Maria da Conceição Nascimento
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Mauricio Lima
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Marcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Natividade
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ximenes
authors.forename: Wayner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Odimariles Maria
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: José Ueleres
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Braga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult