Health Policies in the Knowledge of SUS Users

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the profile and knowledge of SUS (Brazil's Unified Health System) users regarding the health policies implemented in Primary Care in the city of Anápolis, Goiás. To achieve this analysis, it is necessary to understand the entire context  of  Brazilian  healthcare  from  the colonial period to the transition to the imperial and republican eras. Since this  involves  a  public policy, comprehending the economic and political context during the implementation of SUS is of great value. Method: it was a quantitative  approach,  and  data  collection  was  carried out through an interview script with closed-ended questions. The results emerged from descriptive statistical analysis, presented through graphs. Results: it was possible to understand the profile of SUS users and observe a divergence between their knowledge and the health policies. The Family Health Strategy (ESF) was relatively unknown among the users, with  difficulty  in distinguishing its significance and representation within the Basic Health Units. However, they demonstrated nearly complete awareness of ESF programs, with the knowledge gap mostly related to specific program names, but an understanding of their activities and reference locations for care.  Conclusion: the importance of such studies in the field is confirmed,  as  they  contribute  to  the improvement of the Primary  Care  assistance  process.  These  studies  highlight  the main  challenges to be overcome by professionals working in the service and by its managers for the effective implementation of quality care.