Abstract
This study aimed to understand how community health agents perceive the organization of Primary Health Care for the health care of rural populations in small municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Qualitative study carried out in six small cities in the North and Northeast regions of Minas Gerais. Six focus groups were carried out between July and December 2019. Results showed different strategies to expand the access of the rural population to actions offered in Primary Health Care, such as the construction of support points and the organization of teams to offer consultations, home visits and certain procedures in the rural areas themselves. However, the organization of rural population care seems to be guided by clinical criteria and the ability to move teams and users, rather than by the health needs of population. We hope the data on different realities in rural territories can contribute to the development of strategies to expand and consolidate public health policies for the Brazilian rural population.
Keywords:
community health workers; Primary Healthcare; rural health