Objective
To investigate nurses’ contribution to tackling chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in primary health care (PHC) settings in Brazil.
Methods
Ecological study using secondary data from the Primary Care Health Information System (Sistema de Informação em Saúde para a Atenção Básica, SISAB) and the National Register of Health Establishments (Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde, CNES) concerning nursing consultations for six groups of NCDs: chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular risk screening, and breast and cervical cancer screening. Rates per 100,000 population and average productivity per nurse were calculated for the macroregions of Brazil.
Results
In 2023, PHC nurses provided more than 30 million consultations related to NCDs. The highest rates were observed in the Northeast (for hypertension and diabetes) and in the South (for cancer screening). Nationwide, the average productivity was 314.8 consultations per nurse, with the highest number of nurses per 100,000 population seen in the South (58.6) and Northeast (51.0) regions.
Conclusion
Nursing plays a strategic role in providing NCD management in PHC settings. Our findings suggest a strong contribution by nurses to coverage and screening of chronic diseases, but with marked regional inequalities. This reiterates the importance of investing in clinical protocols, infrastructure, and continuous training to expand equitable access to quality health care.