Computerization of primary health care in Brazil: the network of actors

To analyze the network of human and non-human actors involved in the computerization of primary health care in the Brazilian federal government.

A qualitative study that used as a theoretical reference the actor-network theory and as a methodological reference the cartography of controversies. Data analysis was carried out using Gephi software, and through the extraction of reports, informed by the actor-network theory.

We found a network of 288 connections among 33 actors, composed mainly of nonhuman influencers of computerization. These actors are distributed throughout 3 inter-related communities, and manage the network by defining obligations, penalties, conflicts and intentionalities, thus influencing the success of the intended computerization.

The network of actors at the federal level generates situations that, in many cases, hamper the successful implementation of a nationwide computerization strategy.