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May 9, 20260 citationsOpen Access

Covid-19 and chronic conditions: lessons to strengthen care in primary health care.

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MVMARINA SOUZA VIEIRATRThaís Régis Aranha RossiCSCarla Maria Lima Santos

Key Points

  • This analysis aims to evaluate how primary health care professionals adjusted their practices for patients with hypertension and diabetes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with primary health care professionals providing care during the pandemic.
  • Analyzed municipal documents and news reports related to Covid-19 and primary health care.
  • Data assessed using Mendes-Gonçalves' health work process framework.
  • The pandemic led to significant changes in care practices, highlighting the prioritization of spontaneous demand over continuous monitoring.
  • Identified weaknesses in ongoing care for patients with chronic conditions amid pandemic pressures.
  • Emphasized the need for resumed health practices that ensure equity, planning, and comprehensive access in underserved areas.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the work process of Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals regarding care practices aimed at users with hypertension and diabetes during the Covid-19 pandemic in a capital in Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals who provided care and followed up this subpopulation in PHC. In addition, municipal documents and news reports from the Municipal Department of Health about Covid-19 and PHC were analyzed. The study criteria were Primary Health Care workers who acted in the Covid-19 pandemic in the same Family Health unit. Data were analyzed according to the health work process reference of Mendes-Gonçalves. RESULTS: The pandemic has imposed significant changes in PHC practices. We observed priority of spontaneous demand, weaknesses in continuous monitoring of users, emphasis on prescriptions renewal, and work in vast territories, with unattended areas, by the Family Health Strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Health practices aimed at users with chronic conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, remain fragmented and should be resumed, but based on equity, with planning, monitoring, and knowledge of their territory in such a way to provide comprehensive and problem-solving access to the population that remains "isolated," even with the end of the pandemic.

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Cite This Study

VIEIRA et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69fed090b9154b0b82877abehttps://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2026060006917
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