Characteristics of physical activity programs in the Brazilian primary health care system

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of programs that promote physical activity in the public primary care system by region of Brazil, subject to the presence or absence of multidisciplinary primary care teams (NASF). We conducted a cross sectional and population-based telephone survey of the health unit coordinators from 1,251 health care units. Coordinators were asked about the presence and characteristics of physical activity programs. Four out of ten health units reported having a physical activity intervention program, the most common involving walking groups. Most of the activities were performed in the morning, once or twice a week, and in sessions of 30 minutes or more. Physical education professionals were primarily responsible for directing the activities. Interventions occurred in the health unit itself or in adjacent community spaces. In general, these characteristics were similar between units with or without NASF, but varied substantially across regions. These findings will guide future physical activity policies and programs within primary care in Brazil.

Interventions by Physical Education professionals in Nuclei of Support to Family Health in São Paulo

“…Authors suggest the prevalence of these activities due to a series of factors, including low cost, interest (popular knowledge), the fact that it does not demand specific spaces for its practice, effects in improved health conditions of its participants (short, medium and longterm) and low complexity. In the same way, a recent study conducted with a representative sample in primary care units in Brazil confirms that groups walks is the most frequent practice in the promotion of physical activity 13 .…”

“…Another study with representative sample in primary health units in Brazil showed 81.8% of such units did not develop strategies to promote physical activity in partnerships with schools or in the school environment 13 . Those strategies are important for public health, given the low prevalence of physical activity practice in recommended doses among school children in Bra-zil 19 , as well as the body of evidence demonstrating many biological, psychological and social benefits for children and adolescents 20,21,22,23 .…”

A avaliabilidade dos Núcleos de Apoio à Saúde da Família (Nasf)

“…Para alguns autores, haveria insuficiente direcionamento político e tecnoassistencial na indução da implantação de Nasf pelo MS, resultando em diferentes processos de trabalho, e definição das ações com base estritamente empírica ou contingente Articulada ao fato, já considerado, de que metade dos artigos se ocupa da busca de respostas sobre a atuação das profissões, identifica-se a transposição, para o interior do Nasf, do exercício de atividades típicas das áreas profissionais que o compõem, como o atendimento clínico individual. Esta situação ocorre como forma de responder às expectativas iniciais da EqSF, à grande demanda existente por atendimentos especializados ou à solicitação direta dos próprios usuá-rios (AGUIAR;COSTA, 2015;ARAÚJO;GALIMBERTTI, 2013;AZEVEDO;KIND, 2013;BARBOSA ET AL., 2010;COSTA ET AL., 2013;DIBAI FILHO;AVEIRO, 2012;FERRO ET AL., 2014;GOMES ET AL., 2014;GONÇALVES ET AL., 2015;LANCMAN ET AL., 2013;BOSI, 2013;MOLINI-AVEJONAS ET AL., 2014;PASQUIM;ARRUDA, 2013;RODRIGUES;BOSI, 2014;SANTOS ET AL., 2015;SOUSA ET AL., 2015). Além do atendimento especializado individual, outras ações caras à proposta acontecem, como a atenção domiciliar conjunta (AZEVEDO;KIND, 2013;DIBAI FILHO;AVEIRO, 2012;GONÇALVES ET AL., 2015;LEITE ET AL., 2013;MOLINI-AVEJONAS ET AL., 2014;REIS ET AL., 2012;SOUSA ET AL., 2015;SOUZA;LOCH, 2011) e o trabalho com grupos (AZEVEDO;KIND, 2013;BONALDI;RIBEIRO, 2014;…”

Programa de Caminhada em Unidades de Saúde da Família de um contexto de alta vulnerabilidade social

“…lente de promover AF 6 . Esta prática possui baixo custo, não requer local específico e pode ser praticada por ambos os sexos.…”