Access to breast cancer care in a municipality in Bahia: the perspective of users, workers and managers

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the access of women with breast cancer to health care services from the perspective of users, workers and managers. This is a qualitative study carried out with women diagnosed with breast cancer, both in the urban and rural areas. In addition, workers from the primary care in health, medium and high complexity and municipal managers participated. The results were presented in two categories: Organization of the breast cancer care network and Access to breast cancer care in the health care network. In the first category, stand out the lack of line of care for breast cancer, insufficient financing of health and fragility in the mechanisms of integration of the care network. In the second, ineffective mammographic screening, focusing of attention to breast cancer in Outubro Rosa and difficulty accessing the exams and specialized procedures, such as consultation with mastologist and breast puncture/biopsy. The plurality of perspectives evaluated allowed us to observe important gaps in the constitution of the care network for women with breast cancer, where organizational problems feedback with those related to the care provided.