This study analyzed the participatory dimension of the Family Health Support Centers assessment process. We drew on Paulo Freire’s and Orlando Fals Borda’s contributions to participatory assessment, defined as transformative and confronting pragmatic North American approaches. Participation was assessed using five dimensions: control of decisions; range of stakeholders; power relations; plasticity of the process in relation to context; and depth of participation. The findings showed that workers had limited control of decisions, a limited range of stakeholders; balanced power relations; plasticity of the process in relation to context, and success of actions designed to enhance participation. The valorization of and exploration of the transformative approaches proposed by Freire and Fals Borda – capable of addressing essential issues and proposing changes – can enrich participatory assessment studies in Brazil.
Keywords
Health programs and projects assessment; Primary health care; Community-based participatory research