Pessoas com deficiência no estado do Ceará: uma análise situacional

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In the context of developing the State Policy for Persons with Disabilities in the state of Ceará, the need for the production of qualified information to support health planning becomes evident. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a situational analysis of the population with disabilities in Ceará, considering their sociodemographic profile, access to assistive technologies, and the territorial distribution of health services. METHOD: This is a descriptive, exploratory study with a quantitative approach, developed using secondary data from the State Registry of Persons with Disabilities and public databases from the Ministry of Health. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical variables were analyzed, as well as information on the use of assistive devices and access to rehabilitation services. Additionally, a spatial analysis was conducted, integrating the distribution of the population with disabilities and the specialized outpatient care network in the state. RESULTS: The findings revealed inequalities in access to assistive technologies, with greater unmet needs among individuals with visual and hearing disabilities, as well as among women, lower-income individuals, and residents of less advantaged regions. A concentration of specialized services in more urbanized areas was also observed, contrasting with the territorial dispersion of the population with disabilities, indicating a possible underestimation of service provision in certain health regions. CONCLUSION: The population with disabilities in Ceará faces structural inequalities in access to assistive resources and health services, associated with socioeconomic and territorial factors. The findings reinforce the need to reorganize the care network based on principles of equity, regionalization, and the strengthening of public policies aimed at inclusion and the guarantee of rights.