Community health workers in educational activities: potentials and weaknesses [Os agentes comunitários de saúde nas práticas educativas: potencialidades e fragilidades] [Los agentes comunitarios de salud en las prácticas educativas: potencialidades y fragilidades]
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2018.18425Keywords:
Community health agents, health education, self-evaluation, health promotion.Abstract
Objective: to examine community health workers’ (CHWs) self-assessment of their facilitation / moderation of health education practices and actions. Method: this qualitative study of 36 CHWs in two family health units in Rio de Janeiro City was conducted in 2013. The study was approved by the research and ethics committee. Data were obtained by scripted, semi-structured interview and analyzed using content analysis. Results: two categories were obtained, one highlighting the greater security resulting from training and satisfaction, and the other, the weaknesses, such as work overload and lack of time to plan educational activities. Conclusion: CHWs feel fulfilled, although still insecure, in taking on and appropriating health education activities in the community. Accordingly, there is a need for greater investment in continued professional development and education for CHWs.
RESUMO
Objetivo: analisar a autoavaliação dos agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) frente a sua atuação nas práticas e ações de educação em saúde, nas quais eles foram os facilitadores/moderadores. Método: estudo qualitativo, desenvolvido em 2013, com 36 ACS, em duas unidades de saúde da família do município do Rio de Janeiro. A pesquisa foi aprovada por Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa. Aplicou-se roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado para a obtenção dos dados. Os depoimentos foram submetidos à análise de conteúdos. Resultados: obtiveram-se duas categorias: potencialidades – destacando-se a maior segurança decorrente das capacitações e satisfação; e fragilidades – como sobrecarga de trabalho e falta de tempo para planejar as atividades educativas. Conclusão: os ACS sentem-se realizados, porém, ainda, inseguros, para assumir e se apropriar das atividades de educação em saúde na comunidade, sendo, por isso, necessários maiores investimentos na formação e na educação permanentes dos ACS.
RESUMEN
Objetivo: analizar la autoevaluación de los agentes comunitarios de salud (ACS) ante su actuación en las prácticas y acciones de educación en salud, en las que fueron los facilitadores / moderadores. Método: estudio cualitativo, desarrollado en 2013, junto a 36 ACS, en dos unidades de salud de la familia del municipio de Río de Janeiro. La investigación fue aprobada por el Comité de Ética e Investigación. Se aplicó un guion de entrevistas semiestructuradas para la obtención de los datos. Las declaraciones se han sometido al análisis de contenidos. Resultados: se obtuvieron dos categorías: potencialidades - destacándose la mayor seguridad derivada de las capacitaciones y la satisfacción; y fragilidades - como sobrecarga de trabajo y falta de tiempo para planificar las actividades educativas. Conclusión: los ACS se sienten realizados, sin embargo, inseguros, para asumir y apropiarse de las actividades de educación en salud en la comunidad, por lo que son necesarias mayores inversiones en la formación y la educación permanentes de los ACS.
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