ABSTRACT
Investment in the early years of life is crucial for human development. In this sense, this research aimed to analyze interventions, strategies, and resources used to carry out health promotion actions in early childhood, in the light of intersectoriality, in a territory of Primary Health Care. An exploratory qualitative research was carried out in the municipality of Apucarana, Paraná, with information obtained from the realization of a Focus Group that had the participation of nine social actors, linked to the health, education, and social assistance sectors. The research brought to light the vision of an early childhood marked by problems related to the increase in social and clinical demands; the outbreak of ‘psychiatric’ disorders; and the difficulties of the local network to deal with parents in the construction of parenting and child development. Faced with these adversities, the research showed strategies, local, intra and intersectoral initiatives that range from a sequence of clinical-care practices to playful actions in childcare, intergenerational groups, and projects to build gardens and compost. It was found that intersectoriality emerged as a precursor of comprehensive care, identified as a possible way to carry out health promotion actions in early childhood.
KEYWORDS
Primary Health Care; Intersectorial colaborations; Medicalization; Health promotion; Child health