[Participation by indians health agents in health services: the experience in Santa Catarina State, Brazil].
This study analyzes the role and training of indian health agents as defined by the National Policy for Health Care of Indians Peoples on two Indian reservations in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The health agent's role in primary care is based on mediation between traditional health practices and biomedicine, subsumed in the concept of differentiated care. On both reservations, a large turnover of indigenous health agents and lack of adequate training were observed. The indigenous health agents expressed difficulty in understanding the reasons for their activities, role ambiguity vis-à-vis the community, and communications problems with other health professionals. Considering the national policy guidelines, this study indicates that the provision of differentiated care is precarious and that a dialogue is necessary, with actual participation by all stakeholders in the health services.
Langdon
Esther Jean
EJ
Centro de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil. estherjeanbr@yahoo.com.br
Diehl
Eliana Elisabeth
EE
Wiik
Flávio Braune
FB
Dias-Scopel
Raquel Paiva
RP
D001938:Brazil; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D011320:Primary Health Care; D000078329:Workforce