[What does a 24-hour child and adolescent psychosocial care center do in the city of Curitiba, Brazil?]

Abstract

The National Policy on Mental Health for Children and Adolescents is still poorly structured in Brazil. In general, it replicates the policy aimed at adults, which creates problems for its articulation with networks. The objective of this study was to analyze and describe the actions carried out at a 24-hour Child and Adolescent Psychosocial Care Center (CAPSi) with beds in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. This is a descriptive study based on the analysis of medical record data and productivity data between 2016-2017, provided by the Department of Informatics at the Unified Health System (DATASUS). Results show that the center performed 29,449 procedures and attended to 112 children and adolescents through its 24-hour service. Medical records indicate extensive use of the service by the network. Primary care accounted for 52% of demand, while the other half could be attributed to a wide range of services. The variety of actions carried out suggests a high degree of flexibility at the clinic, replacing the classic model of the psychiatric hospital with the principles of the expanded clinic. Furthermore, the existence of beds made it easier to manage crises in a manner more closely linked to the community.