[Flow and use of health services: medium complexity users' mobility]

Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2008 Jun;29(2):221-9.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

The organization of health services must respond to population demands resulting from complex social, individual and cultural factors. The objective of this study was to build the social-economic and demographic profile of the users to illustrate how to intermediate-complexity health services are used by mapping user flows in the southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This was a descriptive and transversal study with 150 users. Statistic and spatial analyses were used. User flow analysis revealed dissonance between the Regionalization Master Health Plan and users' practice because the organization proposed by the State does not correspond to users' real needs of moving in the local space. An inevitable political engagement is evidenced on behalf of regionalization, and users' mobility and building therapeutic trajectories were considered as new challenges to be faced by public health.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brazil
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Young Adult