Profile of the patients with functional losses and dependence in the family health care program in São Paulo

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand how social and health inequalities are expressed in the health-disease profile of individuals with functional losses and dependence receiving home care by Family Health Care Program's teams in the administrative districts of the city of São Paulo. The districts were grouped according to the Social Exclusion Index through a cluster analysis, and a statistical description of the variables was developed in order to compare them. For the city as a whole was verified the prevalence of senior women with light functional losses and dependence requiring low complexity care, compatible with Primary Health Care. Districts with major social exclusion had a larger proportion of males less than 60 years old and children with severe disabilities who need care of greater complexity. The article debates the need for home care policies designed for the specificities of the city of São Paulo instead of policies focused on specific population groups.