Physical Education Professionals in the Unified Health System: an analysis of the brazilian registry of health institutions between 2013 and 2017

Abstract

The objective this study was to describe the distribution of Physical Education Professionals (PEP) registered in the Unified Health System (UHS) between 2013 and 2017 in Brazil. A descriptive study was carried out, based on data from the Brazilian Registry of Health Institutions (BRHI) and from the 2010 Demographic Census. The distribution was analyzed according to Brazilian macro-regions and states, considering the Brazilian Occupational Classification (BOC). A total of 6,797 PEP records were identified, distributed in eight BOC categories, of which 89.0% were registered Physical Education Professionals in Health (PEPH). There was an increase of 140.8% in the number of PEPH in the period analyzed. The largest increase was in the Southern region of the country (229.2%). The most favorable ratio between number of inhabitants and PEPH in 2017 was in the Northeastern region (24,300 inhab/PEPH) and the least favorable one was in the Northern region (46,100 inhab/PEHS). When the same ratio is analyzed according to state, Piauí showed the most favorable figure (16,341 inhab/PEHS) and the Federal District was the least favorable one (303,944 inhab/PEHS). Although the PEP is responsible for the adequate guidance of physical activity practice, clearly beneficial to health when well oriented, the results of this study pointed to an unequal distribution in the different regions and states of Brazil, although an absolute increase was observed in the registry of professionals in the period.