Undergraduate training in public health in Brazil and its adherence to the National Curricular Guidelines

This study examines the adherence of Bachelor's degree programs in Public Health in Brazil to the 2024 National Curricular Guidelines (Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais - DCNs). This research employs an analytical-descriptive methodology, relying on a documentary analysis of the Political-Pedagogical Projects (PPP). An analytical framework was developed consisting of four dimensions and 24 indicators, using a five-point Likert scale to evaluate the conformity of the programs. The Synthetic Adherence Index (SAI) was computed and compared by region and program shift, with differences evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. A total of twenty-one programs were identified, predominantly located in federal institutions (81.0%) and concentrated in the North and South regions (23.8% each). Despite improvements in overall performance relative to the DCNs, 33% of the programs did not fulfill the minimum workload of 3,200 hours, and 19% fell short of the required minimum internship of 500 hours. The SAI exhibited significant variation by shift (p=0.0051) but not by region (p=0.4455). The findings highlight both advances and challenges in the implementation of the DCNs, underscoring the need for strategies to enhance professional training in Public Health.