Physical therapists in primary health care: analysis of the national register of health service providers

ABSTRACT This study aimed to describe the distribution of physical therapists in the Brazilian primary health care (PHC) and the ratio of inhabitants per physical therapist in PHC, according to the National Register of Health Service Providers (CNES - Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde). A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from CNES and Census/2010 data. In total, 6,917 physical therapists were registered in PHC, and most were located in the Southeast region (49%). Southeast and South were the regions with the best ratios of inhabitants per physical therapist in PHC (about 23,000/1). The North presented a ratio of 32,000 inhabitants/professional. 47% of the Brazilian cities have a physical therapist in PHC. Our analysis by population size indicated a higher percentage of physical therapists in PHC in small (39%) and midsize cities (34%). The best inhabitants/physical therapist ratio occurred in small cities of the Southeast (6,948/1) and the worst, in metropolises of the Midwest (371,672/1). Small cities have physical therapists only in PHC; on the other hand, most cities of larger sizes have physical therapists in all health care levels.