[Health workers' community practices in primary health care models in South and Northeast Brazil].
In order to verify the prevalence of health workers' participation in health practices in the community, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 3,743 primary care health workers in 41 municipalities with more than 100 thousand inhabitants each in South and Northeast Brazil. Overall prevalence of participation in the community was 62.7%, and was significantly higher in the Northeast and in the Family Health Program (FHP). The most common practice was health education on special holidays, in talks, and in groups. There was a positive association between participation and: female gender, training in the management of chronic diseases, use of protocols, satisfaction with community meetings, and academic health services. Differences in the prevalence of participation by region and health care model reaffirmed the inherent expectations in the historical context of reorganization of primary care. The results indicate that it is necessary to expand participation by health workers in the community, considering that primary care is the level of care that provides the best possibilities for promoting health practices with equity.
Secretaria Municipal de Saúde e Bem Estar de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brasil. enf.alexandra@hotmail.com
Alexandra da Rosa
Ada R
Martins
Denise Silva da
DS
Silveira
Fernando Vinholes
FV
Siqueira
Luiz Augusto
LA
Facchini
Roberto Xavier
RX
Piccini
Elaine
E
Tomasi
Elaine
E
Thumé
Marilu Correa
MC
Soares
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult