A efetividade da atenção primária nos municípios sede das coordenadorias regionais de saúde do Rio Grande do Sul: condições sensíveis

Abstract

This article evaluates, through the hospitalization rate by the "primary care sensitive conditions" (PCSC), the effectiveness of the primary health care on the headquarter cities from the regional health districts of Rio Grande do Sul. Data were collected from DATASUS, years of 1995 to 2007. Analysis included trend analysis, standardized rates, trend curves and correlation coefficients. Every city included, except Porto Alegre, presented a trend to reduce the rates along time. Among the big ones, the greater trend to reduction of the rates were verified on Bage (r=-0,96). Porto Alegre (r=0,22) presented an ascendant trend curve by the end of the period. All the medium cities presented lower rates, compared to their ones at the beginning. On the small group, only Lajeado and Frederico Westphalen presented lower rates compared to the State in 2007. The greater rates were found on the small cities. Throughout this study, the use of the hospitalization rate by the PCSC is proposed as a tool for the management of the primary health care.