Multidisciplinary teams in PHC: a temporal analysis of funding and the integration of Physical Education professionals in Brazil (2008–2025)

Abstract

This study analyzed the temporal evolution and regional distribution of multiprofessional teams in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Brazil, considering federal funding, the number of teams and health professionals, as well as the inclusion of Physical Education. An ecological time-series study was conducted in Brazil and its regions from 2008 to 2025. The following variables were analyzed: number of teams, rate per 100,000 inhabitants, inflation-adjusted federal funding, number of professionals, and the proportion of Physical Education professionals. An overall increase in the indicators was observed over the study period, along with a rise in funding between 2008 and 2019, followed by a recovery in 2024. Total investment amounted to BRL 13.9 billion, with the highest concentration in the Northeast region. The proportion of Physical Education professionals showed an initial upward trend, followed by a recent decline. The expansion was associated with federal funding and marked by significant regional inequalities. Changes in the PHC financing model are linked to this inflection, indicating a weakening of these teams and a reduction in the inclusion of such professionals, with implications for the comprehensiveness and problem-solving capacity of PHC.