Abstract
Objetivo:
to investigate the characteristics of health communication services taking the Municipal Health Department Councils network in Brazil as a basis.
Methods:
this was a quantitative study with an exploratory design conducted in 2014-2015, using non-probability sampling. Four structured questionnaires were used examining four dimensions: 1) structure of the communication advisory service work; 2) profile of the professionals working in these services; 3) the main duties of these advisory services, and 4) possible variants of municipalities not having this specialized service.
Results:
72 of the 122 participating municipalities did not have a communication advisory service and only two network members had communications directorates; work facilities were precarious, professionals had little length of communication advisory service; they did not have job stability and were not members of the health management councils.
Conclusion:
Although they provide direct advice to health secretaries, the working conditions of communication professionals compromise their planning actions.
Keywords:
Public Health Policies; Unified Health System; Health Management; Health Communication