ABSTRACT
Purpose
To understand the dynamics of access regulation, the challenges, and perspectives of the performance of the Regional Health Coordinating Bodies of Rio Grande do Sul (RHCB/RS) in hearing health care.
Methods
This is an exploratory, cross-sectional, census study and the analysis is descriptive. It involved those responsible for the regulation of hearing health care procedures in RHCB/RS, interviewed about professional training, identification of available procedures and their respective offer, access regulation systematics, and other actions in hearing health care.
Results
15 professionals participated, all were women, from 16 of the 18 existing RHCB/RS, aged between 30 and 47; 13 speech-language pathologists and audiologists and two physiotherapists, who graduated between 1997 and 2012; and 13 had post -graduate degrees. Regarding regulation in RHCB/RS, 13 used the National Regulation System and three performed it manually; 12 used the protocol provided by the State Health Department/RS; ten RHCB/RS regulated procedures for Neonatal Hearing Screening and 16 for assessment and diagnosis, as well as auditory rehabilitation. There is a repressed demand for all procedures (greater for auditory rehabilitation) in 12 RHCB/RS. All RHCB/RS performed one or more actions to promote hearing health care such as surveillance, matrix support, and health education.
Conclusion
The access regulation in hearing health care is performed in a qualified way in most RHCB/RS; the offer of procedures is insufficient, especially in auditory rehabilitation, which includes exclusive speech-language pathologists and audiologists’ performance through soft and soft-hard technologies.
Keywords:
Unified Health System; Regional health planning; Public health policy; Hearing; Persons with hearing impairments
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