Institutional support for the management and delivery of health services by a mobile river clinic unit in the Amazon (abstract: p. 19)

This study analysed work processes of the institutional supporter to the care services delivered by a mobile river clinic. We conducted a qualitive study using interviews with all members of the mobile river unit management team, which provides care services to the rural population between Manaus and Novo Airao. The findings show a low level of institutionalization of the work of supporters, the importance of immersion in the mobile activities developed in rural areas, and the centrality of daily living work. The lack of administrative support for the activities of the river unit means that the supporter has to develop a wide range of logistical actions required under the mobile rural work routine. Vertical decision-making and underfunding of infra-structure and logistics weaken the interventions of the supporter and multiprofessional teams, despite their contribution to the extent of coverage provided by mobile river units.