[The multiple meanings of "empowerment" in the health promotion proposal].
Starting with a review of the literature and documents pertaining to health promotion in the developed countries, highlighting the Canadian output, the author reflects on the multiple meanings ascribed to the "empowerment" category/strategy. After a summary of the conceptual development of health promotion ideals, the paper analyzes the theoretical aspects of "empowerment", suggesting its classification into two main approaches: psychological and community-based. The author contends that community "empowerment" helps define health promotion as a proposal aimed at transforming the status quo and the production of healthy subjects. The paper concludes by exploring the potential contributions of social/community "empowerment" to health education practices and reorganization of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS).
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil. srcarvalho@terra.com.br
Sérgio Resende
SR
Carvalho
D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011634:Public Health; D009626:Terminology as Topic