Coping strategies in Primary Health Care in the COVID-19 pandemic in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The aim was to analyze Primary Health Care (PHC) actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in municipalities in Minas Gerais. This is a quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study. Data collection was carried out through the application of an online questionnaire, in which 278 municipal
health secretaries from the state of Minas Gerais and/or coordinators of PHC took part. The health structure proved to be capable of providing the development of management functions based on data and information throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the actions to face the population are the use of protocols, masks, use of physical barriers, penalty for crowding, and telephony resources to clarify doubts about COVID-19. As for the difficulties in controlling this disease by employees in the PHC, low professional remuneration, poor work organization, delay in test results, underreporting, lack of equipment and technological resources were mentioned. It is concluded that the numerous measures and tools adopted to control the COVID-19 pandemic were used by municipal authorities. However, despite technological resources, such as the e-SUS, providing epidemiological data on COVID-19, capable of assisting in the planning of health actions, these
tools need to be improved.