COMMUNITY HEALTH AGENTS IN PRIMARY ATTENTION IN BRAZIL: MULTIPLICITY OF ACTIVITIES AND FRAGILIZATION OF TRAINING

Abstract

The study had as objective to avaliate, through an integrative review of the literature, the produced knowledge about the activities carried out by community health agents in Brazil and some other countries. The search of data has included: Journals of Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination Website; Scientific Electronic Library Online; Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature; Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, and has happened from 2010 to 2014. Of the 240 studies identified, 27 were included in this review. The literature highlights the functions that the Community Health Agents have been promoting in a variety of actions in different geographical and cultural contexts. The Community Health Agent has different insertions in the labor market experiences and the fragilities that come from the communities’ socio-cultural contexts, to the need of greater recognition of the health system and the health staff. Its position, between the community and the health staff, is strategic and contributes to the health of the community. Therefore, it should be given proper training to their performance and access to lifelong education, resources and a greater appreciation of the health staff with the society.

community health agents; primary health care; public policy; family health strategy