Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, “Street Clinic” team: care and health promotion practice in a vulnerable territory

摘要

The structuring of care to the homeless people through Primary Health Care (PHC), standardized in 2012 is a challenge to the Brazilian Health System. This article discuss the practices of a Street Clinic (eCnaR) team for the homeless and alcohol, crack and other drugs users in order to provide comprehensive care implemented according to PHC and health promotion conceptions. A qualitative analysis of an eCnaR of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro in the period 2011-2013 was performed, considering PHC essential atributes, with the following analytical categories: the territorial approach; open-door reception services; the complexity of care to vulnerable groups and the coordination of the health and intersectoral network. As theoretical framework, we systematized the concepts of care provided for in Brazilian policies/standards, considering health needs, as well as alcohol, crack and drug dependence in the homeless. As a PHC team for vulnerable populations and territories, the eCnaR was powerful in promoting access, building longitudinality, providing comprehensive care from the perspective of harm reduction and extended clinic. There are challenges to achieve effectiveness of care, such as the multi-professional education and composition; logistical and specialized support to address complex cases and also, the fragility of the network.