RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUITIES IN ACCESS TO PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN A LARGE MUNICIPALITY IN MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

Abstract

Racial and socioeconomic inequalities constitute important determinants of access to health services in Brazil. This study analyzed the association between race/skin color and social determinants of health, including education, income, and health insurance coverage, among primary health care users in a large municipality in Minas Gerais, as well as their implications for access to health services. This is a mixed-methods study conducted with 311 participants linked to primary health care units, with data collected through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed statistically significant inequalities among racial groups, with Black and Brown individuals concentrated in lower levels of education and income, in addition to having less access to private health insurance. A consistent association was observed among these variables, indicating an interdependent pattern of social vulnerability. These inequalities reflect broader structural processes associated with the persistence of racism and the unequal distribution of social opportunities. In this context, difficulties in accessing and using health services, including adherence in health visits, should be understood as outcomes of these inequities rather than merely individual decisions.