Author:

• Rita de Cássia Maciazeki-Gomes - Maciazeki-Gomes, Rita de Cássia - Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciëncias da Educação - <ritamaciazeki@gmail.com>

Co-author(s):

• Carolina Duarte Souza - Souza, Carolina Duarte - Universidade de Santa Catarina, Psicologia - <carolzunino@gmail.com>
• Lissandra Baggio - Baggio, Lissandra - Sociedade Trës de Maio, Psicologia - <lis_baggio@hotmail.com>
• Felipe Wachs - Wachs, F. - Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul - UFG, Faculdade de Educação Física e Dança - <felipewachs@gmail.com>

Thematic Area:

Saúde e Trabalho

Abstract:

This article discusses possibilities and challenges of the work of the Community Health Worker (CHW) through the lens of Popular Health Education Brazilian Policy. It is based on the outcomes from an investigation characterized methodologically as an intervention-research among a health service linked to the Family Health Strategy in a small town in southern Brazil. The data were produced during meetings with the health service team, activities with the CHW as interviews and workshops, and a feedback meeting with the health service team. Among the outcomes, the interlaced role played by the CHW on the health service team became highlighted. Whenever the CHW work is situated between popular and technical knowledge, the Popular Health Education got empowered. At the same time, to CHW plays this role, it is necessary to increase their continuing education, to conduct some agreements and to reach professional recognition. Based on the analyses, we recommend that the CHW work practice to be conducted linked to a broader meaning of health phenomenon and to be sustained on a teamwork which recognizes the community knowledge and which follows the principles of the Popular Health Education Policy.

Keywords:

Health Education Community Health Workers Health Promotion Primary Health Care Unified Health System

Content:

Access Issue in Scielo

Other languages: