title: [Prevalence of home care and associated factors in the Brazilian elderly population].
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of home care for the Brazilian elderly population and associated factors, using a cross-sectional design with a sample of individuals 60 years or older living in the urban areas of 100 municipalities located in 23 states. A Poisson regression model was used for crude and adjusted analyses. A total of 6,624 elderly individuals were interviewed, and prevalence of home care was 11.7%. After adjustment, higher home care rates were associated with female gender, older old age, lower schooling and purchasing power, diagnosis of chronic illness, history of falls, previous hospitalization, and medical consultation in the previous three months. The results highlight more extensive use of home care by the most vulnerable elderly. This finding suggests a contribution from home care to the promotion of healthcare equity in Brazil, especially due to the expansion of the Family Health Strategy. The results can support the organization of the work process for primary care professionals and managers.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Louriele Soares
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wachs
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Pereira
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariangela Uhlmann
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Facchini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thumé
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population