Human Resources and Family Health Strategy in the North of Minas Gerais: advances and challenges

Abstract Background The public health system presents challenges for human resources. Objective To evaluate the advances and challenges in the management of human resources included in the Family Health Strategy - FHS in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Method A cross-sectional study with 317 professionals linked to the FHS: dentists, nurses and doctors was carried out. For data collection, it was used a questionnaire with variables: sociodemographic and economic characteristics, employment relationship, career path, permanent and continuing education, and financial incentive. It was also evaluated the remuneration according to gender, career plan and professional category; and professional category according to gender, career plan and permanent education; significance level p <0.05. Results The most were women (65.2%), nurses (46.3%), postgraduates (51.1%), bond by administrative contract (67.4%), no career plan (90.8%) and financial incentives (61.1%) and participated in permanent education (57.8%). More than 40% worked in the FHS of another municipality and 117 completed specialization in FHS / public / collective health. The higher remuneration was for medicine (p <0.05) and for men (p <0.05). Nursing presented higher percentage of women, of professionals with career plan and permanent education (p <0.05). Conclusion Advances stand out in professional qualification, specialists and / or capacitation in service. There are challenges concerning to the precariousness conditions of work, which contributes to the turnover of professionals.