Men's health needs in primary care: user embracement and forming links with users as strengtheners of comprehensive health care

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the health needs of males who were service users of a primary healthcare center in the city of Belo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: This is qualitative research and has health needs as its category of analysis. Interviews were held with 27 men aged 20-59 years old in the period March -June 2012. The data was subjected to thematic analysis. Results: The results showed that embracing and forming links with service users stood out as strengtheners of comprehensive health care and recognition of the health needs of the group studied. Conclusion: The ability of professionals and services to embrace users, translating, and building seamless and appropriate care for this public's health needs is fundamental for the value of the use of the health work to be recognized, and for the men to recognize themselves as agents of their care and their needs. RESUMOEste estudo teve como objetivo analisar as necessidades de saúde de homens usuários de uma unidade básica de saúde, na cidade de Belo Horizonte/Minas Gerais. Métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa e tem como categoria de análise as necessidades de saúde. Foram entrevistados 27 homens na faixa etária de 20 a 59 anos no período de março a junho de 2012. Os dados foram submetidos à análise temática. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que o acolhimento e o vínculo se destacaram como dispositivos potencializadores da integralidade da assistência e do reconhecimento das necessidades de saúde do grupo estudado. Conclusão: A capacidade dos profissionais e dos serviços de acolherem, traduzirem e construírem um cuidado contínuo e adequado para as necessidades de saúde desse público é fundamental para que o valor de uso do trabalho em saúde seja reconhecido e para que os homens se reconheçam como sujeitos do seu cuidado e de suas necessidades.Saúde do homem; Política de saúde; Masculinidade; Assistência integral à saúde. RESUMENObjetivo: El trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar las necesidades de salud de los usuarios hombres de una Unidad Básica de Salud en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte/Minas Gerais. Métodos: Se trata de una investigación cualitativa y tiene como categoría de análisis de las necesidades de salud. Entrevistamos a 27 hombres, entre 20 y 59 años, en el período de marzo a junio de 2012. Los datos fueron sometidos al análisis temático. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que la acogida y el vínculo se destacaron como dispositivos impulsores de la integralidad de la asistencia y del reconocimiento de las necesidades de salud del grupo estudiado. Conclusión: La capacidad de los profesionales y los servicios de recepción, traducción y construcción del cuidado continuo y adecuado para las necesidades de salud de este grupo, son fundamentales para que el valor de uso del trabajo en salud sea reconocido y que los hombres reconozcan a sí mismos como sujetos de su cuidado y sus necesidades.

Understanding the health needs of adult men: a male perspective

“…In the case of the nurse, the continuity of follow-up and the creation of lasting bonds can favor the identification and performance of male health needs. A study carried out with 27 men, aged 20 to 59 years old, who adopted the health needs taxonomy to analyze the results obtained in a semantic way, points out the reception and the bond as potential for recognition of male health needs that may qualify both the man's way of dealing with his own needs and the work of health professionals, especially the nurses (8) .…”

“…The recognition and socialization of men´s health needs still face barriers imposed by the current model of masculinity, where there is no room for attention and care for the men demands and needs in health, but it favors the invulnerability of men. The reproduction of adverse postures to health care prevents reception and bonding (8) .…”

Quality of Primary Health Care in Brazil: patients'view

“…In addition, variables were defined and selected regarding the analysis of comprehensive care (14) , bond (11,15) and coordination of care (1) : • comprehensive care: ability of the team to try to solve their needs/problems in the health unit; team's approach of other needs apart from the ones that motivated the search for treatment; and team providing solutions of care adequate to reality; • bond: treatment conducted by the same doctor; treatment performed by the same nurse; memory of previous appointments; and ease in talking to health professionals that assisted the patient about doubts, after the appointments; • coordination of care: follow-up of the patient to the AB appointment after assistance in other services and timely access to the tests results that arrive at the UBS.…”

Atividade física nos programas de promoção à saúde do homem

“…18 Emphasis is placed on the adoption of care and consultation protocols, in addition to training of professionals and/or of the accountability referral team, within the health system, so as to build a relationship of bond and being available to the opportunity of building such a link. 15,17,20 It is noteworthy that clinical trials focused on men's health are scarce, especially when seeking to know the impacts of physical activity on the health of the male population. We found only one clustered randomized clinical trial regarding the health promotion intervention.…”