Sickle cell disease and the search for therapeutic care: public policies and access to medications

• Autor(a) principal: Roman, Cassiela
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Bueno, Denise
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Baiana de Saúde Pública (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://rbsp.sesab.ba.gov.br/index.php/rbsp/article/view/3418
• topic: Assistência à Saúde; Assistência Farmacêutica; Doença Falciforme; Políticas Públicas de Saúde; Saúde Pública; Doença Falciforme; Assistência Farmacêutica; Saúde Pública; Atención de Salud; Servicios Farmacéuticos; Enfermedad Falciforme; Políticas Públicas de Salud; Salud Pública; Delivery of Health Care; Pharmaceutical Care; Sickle Cell Disease; Public Health Policy; Public Health

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hereditary condition of high global prevalence, considered a public health issue due to its clinical and epidemiological relevance. As a chronic disease, it requires continuous care, among which the use of medication. Given this scenario, knowing the qualitative aspects of the health care searched by individuals with SCD is important to improve their quality of life. This study established the spatial distribution of SCD cases in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; described the therapeutic itinerary of patients from a referral center in the search for SCD medication; conducted a descriptive documentary analysis of public health policies related to SCD in Brazil; and described costs related to SCD hospitalization in different countries. A qualitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive research was conducted using different methods to contemplate its objectives, namely: geoprocessing, semi-structured interview, documentary analysis and narrative review. Geoprocessing identified 194 patients, most of whom used hydroxyurea and presented sickle cell anemia. In all, 69 cities have one or more patients with SCD, especially Porto Alegre, which accounts for 35% of cases. The interviews showed that the change of drug withdrawal site to the DF introduced barriers into the patients’ therapeutic itinerary, such as: lack of medication and economic factors that hinder their purchase. The documentary analysis selected documents published between 2001 and 2018. The narrative review described costs related to SCD hospitalization based on studies conducted in Brazil, the United States, England, Jamaica, Nigeria and Congo. This study revealed the invisibility of SCD and the difficulties in accessing health care. Results show that further studies on the topic, professional qualification and interprofessional practices are required to reduce the obstacles in people’s therapeutic itinerary and to strengthen its recognition in the health care network.