Política e gestão pública em programas de saúde para autistas no Estado do Pará

Abstract

This research is the result of a documentary analysis of federal and state legislation focused on the legal protection of autistic individuals, regarding specialized care provided by the Unified Health System (SUS) in the state of Pará. This work aims to answer the following question: what are the advances and setbacks for the integrality of the right to health care for autistic people in relation to public policies established in the state of Pará in the period from 2022 to 2023. The justification for conducting this study is to contribute, to the general community and the academic community, regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the demystification of treatments provided by the public health sector in the state, as well as the possibility of providing state management with a detailed analysis of the policies active in this segment, in the form of technical consultation and selection of programs that have shown greater effectiveness in guaranteeing the provision of services and inclusion. Through the State Department of Health, there is a great deal of work by CEPA (State Coordination of Policies for Autism), which has been assuming a prominent national role as pioneers in actions for the benefit of the autistic community. We will address the conceptualization of Autism, from the first discoveries to the most recent studies, permeating its characteristics within the diagnostic manuals and how this disorder affects the lives of people included in it. In addition, Autism is highlighted in terms of the Right to Health in Brazil, providing historical data and its relevance to the current configurations of the SUS. Similarly, the connection between autism and inclusion and the challenges for Public Health as a gateway to the treatment of autistic people is emphasized. In brief considerations, this dissertation examines in its research findings the complexity of implementing public policies for autistic people in the state of Pará and the reach of autistic people to public treatment in the Paraense territory.