Physical accessibility in primary healthcare: a step towards the embracement

• Published in: Revista gaúcha de enfermagem Vol. 39; p. e20170009
• Main Authors: Marques, Juliana Freitas, Áfio, Aline Cruz Esmeraldo, Carvalho, Luciana Vieira de, Leite, Sarah de Sá, Almeida, Paulo César de, Pagliuca, Lorita Marlena Freitag
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 02.07.2018
• Subjects: Architectural Accessibility; Brazil; Communication Barriers; Disabled Persons; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Interior Design and Furnishings; Primary Health Care; Rural Health Services; Urban Health Services; Brazil
• ISSN: 0102-6933
• DOI: 10.1590/1983-1447.2018.2017-0009

To assess the physical accessibility from the front desk of primary healthcare units. Descriptive and quantitative research to map the accessibility of the physical space in 157 health units, between August 2014 and May 2015, in the region of Baturité, Ceará, Brazil. The data were collected using a checklist instrument type, and absolute and relative frequencies, binomial and verisimilitude tests for statistical analysis, with statistical significance of p <0.05 were used. Of the analyzed items, stairs (24.8%), ramps (47.1%) and floors (75.8%) were inaccessible in most health units. Comparing urban and rural areas, circulation area (0.7x, p=0.293), counter (0.4x, p=0.010), seat (0.7x, p=0.758) and drinking fountain (0.7x, p=0.736) were more inaccessible in the urban area. The access of persons with physical disabilities to primary care should be seen as a priority. There are physical, architectural and furniture barriers that compromise the full embracement of the user.