Matrix support as a networking tool between primary health care and Psychosocial Care Center: a secondary data overview

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between structural (physical resources and workers) and process (psychologist and psychiatrist procedures) indicators and the magnitude of the matrix support carried out. This is an ecological, descriptive-analytical study, based on secondary data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System, covering the Regional Health Coordinators of São
Paulo, from 2014 to 2018. Results show the bigger the amount of procedures conducted by psychologists in primary care, the higher the matrix support performed. A possible explanation is the fact that such professional can more easily articulate different types of service, given the expertise acquired by working in the field. On the other hand, the opposite happens between psychiatrist procedures and matrix support, which
may indicate the hegemonic medical model is still in place and working as a barrier. São Paulo presents a very diverse and complex reality, which is different from other regions of the country and also results in important differences across health coordinators, making this research very challenging. Nevertheless, matrix support and shared actions among health units must be encouraged given its importance for the city management. Hence, more researches are needed in the field.