SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE COVERAGE IN THE REGIONAL DE SAÚDE DE SOBRADINHO, DISTRITO FEDERAL

Introduction and Objective Socially vulnerable populations are at a higher risk of negative health outcomes and it has been shown that Primary Health Care (PHC) oriented systems can reduce these inequalities across socioeconomic groups. In the Regional de Saúde de Sobradinho [Sobradinho Health Region], Distrito Federal, only 22.15% of the population is covered by registered Family Health Teams (FHTs), but it isn't known if this portion of the population is the most vulnerable. The objective of this study is to assess the relation between social vulnerability and status of coverage by PHC services of the population in the Regional de Saúde de Sobradinho. Methods This is an ecological, analytical and transversal study, with demographic data obtained from the last decennial census. The population in each area was categorized according to the vulnerability risk of respective census sectors using the Health Vulnerability Index (HVI) and according to whether it was comprised within the coverage area of a PHC service. The data were compiled in a digital database and subjected to a column proportions test. Results and Conclusions A higher proportion of people at high or very high risk by the HVI is covered by registered FHTs when compared to other groups. This result suggests that in the Regional de Saúde de Sobradinho some care has been given to distributing FHTs equitably through the territory. However, there is still a significant proportion of people at very high risk without coverage, highlighting the need for expansion and strengthening of PHC in this setting.