Elements of Primary Care to comprehend the access to SUS services based on users report

Abstract Background In Primary Health Care, access can be understood as enabling alternatives to obtain health services. Objective Analyze access to primary health care services in the Unified Health System (Acronym in Portuguese is SUS), to identify a proposed set of important characteristics in the service network of the city studied through users report. Method Deductive research, performed through a population-based quantitative study, with data collection through a survey conducted in a sample of SUS users, in three administrative districts in Porto Alegre/RS on access to primary care services in the SUS. Results The waiting time after scheduling, service by spontaneous demand and the domicile ascription were the most important elements to characterize good access. However, only 18.8% of the elements that characterize good access was reported by the users. Conclusion This study allowed a better visualization of the characteristics that should be maintained, prioritized and improved regarding access to health services in a big city.