[Community health agents: training, involvement, and practices].
Elisabet Pereira Lelo Nascimento1, Carlos Roberto da Silveira Correa
1Centro de Ciências da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas, Rua Barreto Leme 2540, Campinas, SP, Brazil. betlelo@uol.com.br
Cadernos De Saude Publica
|June 12, 2008
Summary
This study evaluated a training course for community health agents, finding it enhanced their professional practice and community role. The program empowered agents to critically analyze and intervene in local health challenges.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Education
- Qualitative Research Methods
Context:
- Training course for community health agents (CHAs) in Campinas, Brazil (2001-2003).
- Integration of CHAs into the Family Health Program-Paidéia.
- Focus on reorganizing primary healthcare units and consolidating the health model.
Purpose:
- Identify contributions of the CHA training course.
- Evaluate CHAs' assessment of their community role.
- Identify the impact of training on professional practice.
Summary:
- Qualitative study using focus groups and thematic content analysis.
- Training aimed to develop CHAs capable of reflecting on and intervening in local realities.
- CHAs became educational protagonists, generating emancipative knowledge and critical analysis skills.
Impact:
- Empowered community health agents to critically analyze and intervene in community health issues.
- Enhanced professional practice through reflection on daily experiences.
- Strengthened the role of CHAs within the primary healthcare system.
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