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| Author(s): |
Tatiana Pluciennik Dowbor
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR) |
| Defense date: | 2008-04-02 |
| Examining board members: |
Marcia Faria Westphal;
Jose Ricardo de Carvalho Mesquita Ayres;
Claudia Maria Bógus;
Anna Maria Chiesa;
Oswaldo Yoshimi Tanaka
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| Advisor: | Marcia Faria Westphal |
| Abstract | |
Introduction - The work with social determinants of health (SDH) under the banner of the Family Health Program (FHP) is seen by the Brazilian Ministry of Health as a key strategic lever to reorganize primary health care efforts into integral care. At the same time, this program's holistic approach is considered by the health promotion professionals as a driver for community empowerment and social equality. Little is known, however, about the work with SDH being carried on under the FHP. The investigation of this practice represents a strategic point of evaluation for the FHP, as well as an importance case study of the comprehensiveness of community-based primary health care. Objective - To identify, analyze and discuss the state of work with SDH under the banner of FHP in the city of Sao Paulo. Methodology - Based on a pragmatic approach and making use of a mix methods design, data was collected and analyzed in a two step sequential process that reflected a sequential explanatory strategy. The first step encompassed a mostly quantitative (but also qualitative) survey with the population of FHP unit managers of the city of Sao Paulo. The second step, strictly qualitative in nature, comprehended data collection through semi-structured interviews and focal group discussions with central coordination staff, unit managers and other health professionals of the FHP units. Results - Though FHP actions that deal with disease treatment are not only the most frequent ones as well as the ones that are performed with greater regularity, all types of actions (biomedical, psychological, behavioral, social and structural) are being performed by the FHP units in the city. The work with SDH is characterized by great diversity and low regularity. The particular variety and specificity of SDH work that is performed at each unit follow certain patterns that were identified and grouped together - two sets of SDH (classical and broad) and three sets of units (inclusive, essentialist and negativist) emerged. FHP efforts with SDH are mostly directed towards the classical types of determinants. The nature of the relationship between units that carry on work with SDH and central health coordination bodies of the city was also examined. The main barriers for SDH work under FHP are mostly structural and institutional in nature, while the key facilitator tends to be of an individual nature. The appropriateness of working with SDH under FPH was put to doubt by the program professionals, even by those who were most heavily involved with initiatives related to the social determination of health. Conclusion - The work with SDH in the city of Sao Paulo under the FHP has a fluid form and an irregular character which hamper their feasibility. Discussions over the adequacy of these actions should go beyond the simple normalization of their non-standard character and address the kind of initiatives that would foster their institutionalization and allow for proper evaluation. (AU) | |