Discourses of healthcare professionals about health surveillance actions for Tuberculosis control^*

Discursos de los profesionales sanitarios sobre acciones de vigilancia sanitaria en el control de la tuberculosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE  To analyze the meanings produced in the Health Surveillance actions for tuberculosis control, carried out by healthcare professionals in Mozambique.

METHOD  Qualitative study using the theoretical and methodological framework of the French Discourse Analysis.

RESULTS  A total of 15 healthcare professionals with more than one year of experience in disease control actions participated in the study. Four discursive blocks have emerged from the analysis: tuberculosis diagnosis process; meeting, communication and discussion of treatment; local strategies for tuberculosis control; involvement of family and community leaders in the tuberculosis control.

CONCLUSION  The statements of the healthcare professionals suggest, as Health Surveillance actions, practices that include collecting sputum in the patient's home and sending it to the laboratory; deployment of the medical team with a microscope for tuberculosis testing; and testing for diseases that may be associated with tuberculosis. In this context, the actions of Health Surveillance for tuberculosis control involve valuing all actors: family, community leaders, patients and health professionals.

Descriptors
Tuberculosis; Health Surveillance; Mozambique; Public Health Nursing; Health Services