Family Health Support Center’s work to strengthening of primary care: experiences of community workers

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the work of the Family Health Support Centers (NASF) and the matrix support methodology, as elements for strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC), from the perspectives and experiences of community health workers (CHW). Qualitative study, performed in six towns in Bahia. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 43 CHW and field observations. We used the matrix analytic method based on the attributes of the comprehensive PHC: access, longitudinality of care, solvability and community guidance. The results highlighted barriers in access and limitations in the acceptability of collective actions. We found a limited operation in the longitudinality and in the commitment towards the link between supporters and users. The increase in family health activities was highlighted, although such actions developed contribute to the solvability of the cases bashfully. The particularities of the territory have been little considered and the community participation is not properly encouraged. In turn, we noted that the work of these centers strengthens intersectoriality. The experiences of the CHW revealed potentialities and new challenges in the operation of the NASF.

Keywords:
Primary Health Care; Family Health Strategy; community health workers; patient care team; health services research