MALE POPULATION: ADVERSITIES IN ADHERENCE TO HEALTH SERVICES IN PRIMARY CARE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Brazil has established health as a fundamental right for all citizens, supported by universal access guaranteed by the Unified Health System (SUS), which originated through the Health Reform Movement and was ratified by Laws No. 8,080/90 and No. 8,141/90, in accordance with the Federal Constitution of 1988. However, there is low adherence to primary care among men, which leads to neglect in preventive care. Preventive services are provided by primary care, regarded as the gateway to SUS, and this lack of engagement ultimately results in a greater need for more complex care, causing significant costs to public health management. OBJECTIVE: To identify the challenges that contribute to the low participation of men in primary healthcare services. METHODOLOGY: This is an integrative literature review. Data collection was carried out between February and March 2024, from scientific databases in the context of health sciences, namely: Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), National Library of Medicine (PUBMED), Virtual Health Library (BVS), Web of Science (WoS), and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Healthcare professionals also identify the lack of preparation and institutional policies focused on male care as significant challenges. It is noteworthy that many professionals feel unprepared to address men's specific healthcare needs, and the absence of protocols and adequate training limits the effectiveness of healthcare delivery. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study concludes that men’s low demand for healthcare services in Primary Care is due to several factors addressed throughout the research.