Natasha Marques Frota, Thiago Moura de Araújo, Lívia Moreira Barros, Joselany Áfio Caetano, Zélia Maria de Sousa Araújo Santos
We aimed to analyze the accessibility of hypertensive users to the health system with focus on treatment adherence. A cross-sectional study with quantitative approach was conducted in four Family Health Basic Units of Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. The sample consisted of 400 users. Data collection happened through a form applied from May to August 2011. About 97.5% of users were older than 40 years, and 67.2% were female. The accessibility to the referral service occurred in 47.2% of users to secondary care, of which 101 (25.2%) were referred to Emergency Units, and 88 (22.0%) were admitted to Inpatient Units. Most hypertensive patients adhered to healthy habits, except the use of dietetic sweeteners (36.0%) and physical exercise (35.0%). The hypertensive patients had good treatment adherence and difficulty in accessibility regarding counter-referral services to secondary and tertiary care services.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2013000400009