Provision of Speech, Language and Hearing services in the public municipal healthcare network in the state capitals of Northeast BrazilIntroduction In Brazil, the State is responsible for universal and equal access to healthcare, although a scarcity in services is common.
Purpose To describe and compare the supply of Speech, Language and Hearing (SLH) professionals under direct government management in the municipal public healthcare networks in the state capitals of the Brazilian Northeast.
Methods Data for 2007 and 2014 was collected from the National Register of Health Facilities and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The variables were the number of SLH professionals under direct government management in the municipal public healthcare network, the operational level of healthcare, and the number of health units under municipal management. Our analysis estimated: the supply of professionals, by resident population and level of healthcare unit, the evolution between 2007 and 2014 and the current professional deficit.
Results Between 2007 and 2014, the supply of professionals in Northeastern state capitals rose; however, the 2014 average was only 1.5 professionals per 100,000 inhabitants. The greatest supply was found in João Pessoa and Aracaju, while the least was in Natal and Salvador. In terms of the ratio of professionals/health units per level of healthcare, the greatest supply of professionals was found in hospital care and the least in primary care. The estimated professional deficit was substantial and presented intra-regional differences.
Conclusion The supply of professionals under direct government management in the state capitals of the country’s Northeast region is insufficient and unequal, restricting access to SLH services.
Speech, language and hearing sciences; Health services accessibility; Unified Health System; Health inequalities; Health services coverage