Educação permanente em saúde no contexto da atenção primária: estudo descritivo de uma região de saúde em Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract

Introduction: The organization of Brazil’s health system happens through gradually implemented programs and policies and, among those, there is the National Policy of Basic Care (PNAB) and the National Policy of Continual Education in Health (PNEPS). Objective: To analyze the institutional development of the PNAB and the PNEPS in the health region of Dourados-MS, in the period between 2008 and 2013, aiming to identify the accomplished actions on continual education in health and their relation to the primary health care (APS). Materials and methods: A descriptive study was carried out by means of consultations to databases of information systems of national bases and official documents related to the commissions which subsidize the managing decision making referring to the region’s health policies. Results: In the period between 2008 and 2013 federal resources worth R$1,497,165.75 were received and 14 permanent education projects were carried out in the region, of which 40% were destined to APS professionals. Simultaneously, it was noticed an increase in the number of teams, in the number of professionals, and on the percentage of coverage of the Family Health Strategy in the same period and location. Conclusion: In spite of the numerical progress of the Family Health Strategy in the studied location, the investments of projects on continual education in health in the APS represented less than half of the actions performed in the period between 2008 and 2013.