THE MONITORING OF PEOPLE WITH HYPERTENSION AND/OR DIABETES BY FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY TEAMS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: LIMITS AND POSSIBILITIES.
Primary Health Care. Covid-19. Diabetes Mellitus. Arterial Hypertension.
Covid-19 is an acute respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, with the potential for seriousness, high transmissibility and global distribution. Data on the disease indicate that the elderly and people with pre-existing clinical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension, are at high risk of developing the severe form of the disease. In view of the health emergency situation, recommendations for the prevention of contagion by covid-19 were adopted, among them social distance and the reinforcement of hygiene measures. Primary Health Care plays a fundamental role in caring for people with chronic diseases as it coordinates care and organizes Health Care Networks, especially in the context of the pandemic. With some restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the number of people with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus who attended Primary Health Care services in 2020 had a 34% reduction when compared to 2019. With the objective of analyzing the work process of family health teams on the follow-up of people with hypertension and diabetes in the city of Natal in the context of the covid-19 pandemic and to identify successful experiences in coping with health emergency situations, a descriptive exploratory study of the case study type was carried out , qualitative. The focus group technique was used with health professionals, managers and community leaders linked to two Family Health Units in the city of Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte/Brazil. Under the content analysis, two thematic categories were produced. The results showed that there was a loss in the monitoring and access of people with hypertension and diabetes to the Basic Health Units, causing a break in the continuity of care and the consequent decompensation of people with such clinical conditions. The context of the pandemic required the teams to readjust the work process in order to guarantee the continuity of care and greater empowerment of users and family members in the care of chronic conditions.