CONCEPTIONS OF PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN BASIC HEALTH UNITS REGARDING ACCESS AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

Introduction: It is estimated that people with disabilities constitute 15% of the global population. In Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), from 2022, showed that 7.5% of the population reported having a disability. Objective: To understand the conceptions of professionals working in two Health Units (HU) in Porto Alegre regarding access and care for people with disabilities. Method: This is an exploratory descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Interviews were conducted with health professionals who had worked in the studied HUs for at least one year (n=34). Participant characterization data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the textual material produced in the interviews was analyzed using Bardin's content analysis. Results: Five categories emerged from the analysis. The first presents conceptions about the different types of disabilities. The second addresses accessibility, mobility difficulties, and the belief that there are no barriers to care. The third category addresses home visits, companion care, and priority care for people with disabilities. The fourth category identifies the difficulties faced by healthcare professionals and users with disabilities, highlighting reports of communication and access difficulties. The last category demonstrates the lack of professional training on the topic, but highlights the professionals' interest. Conclusion: The study revealed discrepancies between legislation on people with disabilities and access/care for this population in the studied health units. Barriers that compromise access to healthcare services for people with disabilities still exist, such as travel and communication. Home visits proved to be an important tool for facilitating this access. Healthcare professionals' interest in participating in training and improving care for people with disabilities was observed.