Time series of hospitalizations for primary care-sensitive conditions in children in the state of Roraima, Brazil, 2010 to 2023.

Objective: To analyze the trend of hospitalizations for primary care-sensitive conditions in children in the state of Roraima, Brazil.

Methods: Ecological time series study with secondary data collected from the Hospital Information System, on hospitalizations for primary care-sensitive conditions in children between 2010 and 2023.

Results: The highest hospitalization rates were in 2021 (265.9/10,000 inhabitants/year) and the under 1 age group had the highest rates. There was a reduction in ambulatory care-sensitive conditions in group 1, in the first and second segments (MPC=-1.50; 95%CI -3.79-0.32 p=0.016 and MPC=-1.91; 95%CI -3.44--0.81 and p=0.007), group 2, with a constant drop throughout the series of 0.57% per month (95%CI -0.70--0.43 and p<0.001) and in group 16 (MPC=-0.38; 95%CI -0.55--0.21 and p<0.001). Bacterial pneumonia was the main cause of hospitalization in all age groups. Group 4 showed a uniform increase in rates of 1.56% per month (95%CI 0.27-2.80 and p=0.018). There was a drop in rates in the first segment at all ages: <1 year: -2.90% and p=0.019; 1 to 4 years: -1.75% (p=0.011) and 5 to 9 years: -0.79% (p=0.053), followed by an increase and then a drop again. In the last segment, all the age groups showed an increase in rates.

Conclusions: The scenario in Roraima is worrisome and requires urgent interventions, as there is evidence of weaknesses in primary health care, probably aggravated by the migratory crisis. The strategies sought are still insufficient.