MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY CARE SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN TWO BRAZILIAN STATES

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the association between variables related to the management of Primary Health Care (PHC) services and professional characteristics at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional, survey-type study, carried out through convenience sampling, using the snowball method, which included 259 PHC professionals in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo, working in management and direct care in the initial period of the pandemic. A virtual semi-structured questionnaire was applied. The variables “state”, “professional category” and “function” were considered independent variables and “supply of human and material resources”, as well as “management support” were considered dependent variables. The association between variables was assessed using Fisher’s exact test. The significance level adopted was 0.05. The project was approved by the ethics committee with the code number 31493920.8.0000.0021. Results: Health professionals perceive weaknesses in the supply of material and human resources, as well as dissatisfaction with logistics regarding municipal management (40%). The perception of flow and transport logistics also varied among professionals working in care and management (p?0.05). Conclusion: Professionals perceive municipal management of the pandemic, in different aspects, as inadequate. Therefore, it is necessary to implement public and management policies that value PHC services and their professionals, ensuring adequate working conditions, which can reflect in better care and satisfaction for users of the Brazilian Unified Health System.