Frontier Areas Archives - Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

to describe the journey of foreigners with chronic kidney diseases searching for treatment in the Brazilian Unified Health System in a border area.

Methods:

this is a qualitative research conducted with thirteen foreign participants. Data were collected by interviews and analyzed based on the theoretical-methodological framework of the therapeutic itinerary.

Results:

empirical evidence showed seven thematic categories, indicating poor illness perception; poor family support throughout treatment; social aspects such as work, income, and housing as sources of distress; search for alternative treatments; interrupted search for healthcare abroad due to financial problems; journey to healthcare-seeking in Brazil eased by family members and social networks.

Final considerations:

the asymmetries within the Paraguayan and Brazilian health systems spur the search for cross-border integration actions. Identifying another country’s assistance aspects may help in planning more welcoming policies in border regions.