Architectural and communications barriers to access to primary health care in Brazil: an analysis based on the first national census of primary health care centers, 2012

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the results of the National Census of Primary Health Care Centers with regard to architectural and communication barriers in Primary Health Care throughout Brazil. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study based on data from the first National Census of Primary Health Care Centers conducted between May and October 2012. Results: the Northern region had the lowest rates of adequacy; although the Southeast region had the best rates when compared to the country’s other regions, they were nevertheless unsatisfactory, since for many items adequacy was still below 50%; the items relating to accessibility by people with disabilities (5.7 to 34.2%) and/or the illiterate (0.1 to 27.4%) had very low scores. Conclusion: the majority of services evaluated had architectural and communication barriers, hindering access to health services by disabled, illiterate or elderly people; the importance of allocating resources to reduce iniquities and improve access is stressed.