Regionalization of psychosocial care: a panoramic view of the Psychosocial Care Network of Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract The present study aims at analyzing the regionalization of the services carried out by the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS in Portuguese) in the state of Minas Gerais (MG) in Brazil, yielding indicators that may enhance the SUS strategic management towards the strengthening of the psychosocial care provided by the state. It is a cross-sectional study, based on the data collected in May 2019 from government websites, considering the state’s Macro-Regions and Health Regions as units of analysis. Indicators of service coverage in relation to the population in accordance to normative parameters determined by the Ministry of Health for a better understanding of the effective coverage were produced, and a general indicator (iRAPS) of the supply of services in this network in Minas Gerais state was validated. The outcomes allow a detailed analysis of the structural aspect of the RAPS in MG and unveil the development of a robust network. However, important regional heterogeneities were noticed and also a lack of services aiming at specific populations providing assistance 24 hours a day, which weakens the proper access to RAPS in several parts of the state. Higher values of iRAPS were found in health regions with low socioeconomic development and low general offer of health services, a fact that differs from the national scenario, which may imply state policy investments aiming at offering RAPS within the state hinterland areas.