Since it was introduced in Brazil in 1994, the Family Health Program (FHP) has been the main strategy for restructuring primary health care in the country. In this context, the work of family physicians in the community has been essential for the program's success. This study describes the geographical distribution of family physicians in Brazil, based on employment contracts listed in the National Registry of Health Institutions, and the relationship to the infant mortality rate, human development index, mean schooling, GDP, and monthly income in 2004. This was an ecological study presenting the variables geographically, by micro-region. The correlation coefficients between number of family physicians and infant mortality rate, human development index, and GDP were, respectively: 0.17, 0.18, and 0.74. Although nearly all the micro-regions had family physicians, fewer than 12% had three or more family physicians (as recommended by FHP guidelines). A decade into the Family Health Plan in Brazil, the distribution of family physicians was still uneven and insufficient in most micro-regions.
Epidemiology; Health Management; Health Manpower; Primary Health Care; Health Policies
