Professional performanceProfessional performance and challenges of speech-language pathology and audiology practices in a municipal public healthcare network and challenges of speech-language pathology and audiology practices in a municipal public healthcare network

Abstract

Introduction: The Unique Health System was instituted by the federal constitution; guaranteeing that its services are adapted to the population’s health needs, context which inserts the speech-language pathology and audiology therapist. Objective: to know and to characterize the work developed and the challenges faced by speech-language pathology and audiology therapists within a large municipal health network of São Paulo’s interior. Methods: It is a qualitative study, transversal, with basis from the 466/2012 CNS/MS resolution and approved under the number 1.624.754 by the Research Ethics Committee at a public university in São Paulo. The data were collected by a semi-structured questionnaire containing open, essay questions, applied to the speech-language pathology and audiology therapists that work in the Health Department of the city who agreed to participate in the research. The data were analyzed according to repetition and relevance criteria of the Content Analysis. Results: The insertion of the speech-language pathology and audiology therapist is significantly higher in secondary care than in any other levels of health care. The distribution of professionals by the territories is irregular in the city. The matriciamento support is developed differently by the speech-language pathology and audiology therapists by the districts of health of the city and differs from the original proposal. Furthermore, opinions about the city hall’s reception of professionals needs, among participants, are quite divergent. Conclusion: The service of speech-language pathology and audiology therapist is characterized by unequal distribution of the few existing professionals in the levels of health care in the public health system and work in different ways. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists face challenges related to professional performance, referrals, articulations of network services and performance in matriciamento.