Situational diagnosis for the implementation of lines of care in a health region in Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Introduction: The implementation of care lines is part of the Ministry of Health's strategy to control non-transmissible chronic diseases. For better planning of the implementation and management of care lines, the situational diagnosis is the tool of excellence for understanding the structure, potentialities and challenges for care lines. Objective: To present the situational diagnosis of the 7th health region, in Rio Grande do Norte, to support the implementation of care lines for systemic arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, overweight and obesity, acute myocardial infarction and stroke. Methodology: This is a descriptive exploratory study based on three data sources: (1) aggregated data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS); (2) primary data collection via digital form with the Municipal Health Secretariats; It is; (3) reports of visits to 16 services in the health region. This study is part of the FortaleceRAS project, data were collected from April to June 2022. Results: A service network dependent on the pole municipality was identified, also considering an inter-regional dependence. Even with the increasing number of patients with hypertension and diabetes, among the lines of care, overweight and obesity is the one with the most advanced implementation.

Conclusion: the situational diagnosis contributes to a better understanding of the organization of actions and services in the health region. The data and information identified were parameters to start the design of the project's five lines of care.