SWOT analysis of a Family Medicine internship experience at São Vicente, Cape Verde

Abstract

A 3-week internship at a health center in Cape Verde allowed a reflective analysis of the situation of Primary Health Care in the country. This experience is presented using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and an integrative literature review. The authors identified strengths (organization of appointments, accessibility to Nutrition and Psychology care, training of family doctors), weaknesses (child health surveillance, maternal health and family planning mostly carried out without the support of medical staff; lack of computerization; underuse of physical and human resources; shortage of materials; unavailability of certain medicines; the need to evacuate complex cases), opportunities (young population, openness to educational actions, growing interest of foreign doctors in doing internships in the country) and threats (geography, non-free family planning, socioeconomic conditions, cultural particularities). The authors hope that this study will contribute to a constructive approach that will help improve healthcare in Cape Verde.