Geographical accessibility to rehabilitation services of children with congenital zika syndrome

Abstract

Background

Neurological changes in children with congenital zika virus syndrome (CZS) have delays in development and deformities, leading to the need care for rehabilitation services

Objective

This study aims to analyze the geographical accessibility of children with CZS in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (RMR), and to compare such with the optimized (closest distance between the child's residence and the service).

Method

It is a descriptive study, including 51 CZS who resided in the RMR. The instruments used were semi structured questionnaire with sociodemographic data, economic and information from the centers attended by the child. Spatial distribution maps and flows were prepared by the Geographic Information System-QGis and descriptive analyzes of the sample profile, using SPSS 20.0.

Results

The majority were children who lived in locales of socioeconomic vulnerability. As for the accessibility, it was noted that the rehabilitation services which received these children were concentrated in the city of Recife, leading 37.3% of children to travel over 15 km to services. However, the optimal accessibility, 52,9% would be between 1 and 5 km.

Conclusion

A reorganization of these services to facilitate accessibility to these children, as well as a follow-up towards better tending to these families in the long term.

Keywords:
Zika virus; vulnerability; rehabilitation; health care accessibility