O território nas práticas da estratégia saúde da família

Abstract

Starting from the assumption that even the territory being the central element in the working process of family health teams, these teams still have difficulties in using it for the implementation of health practices, advancing slowly towards the achievement of the integral model of health care. The aim of this study is to analyze how the family health teams in the city of Pocos de Caldas understand the territory in their health practices. This is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research. Focal groups with six family health teams were conducted, where doctors, nurses, community health workers and nursing technicians were interviewed. The data were subjected to content analysis, thematic modality. The results of this study are presented in the form of two articles. The first article, titled: “The meaning of territory for family health teams” discussed two categories: "Beyond the geographical boundaries: from the concept of territory to the reality of the territory" and "The (non)participation of the team in delimiting the territory. " The second article, titled: “Health actions and needs in the territory of family health” discussed the following categories: "Understandings and coping strategies in the diversity of the territory", "Development of practices to the territory: possibilities and difficulties "," the role of municipal management in supporting actions in the territory. The results showed that the understanding of territory for the study participants at first is restricted to the concept of geographical area of delimitation, but when they reflect on their working reality, they express the diversities and dynamism of this service territory. They also refer that access is a limiting factor in the development of the practice of the teams and express on the matrix support being a potentiator of work, and that the precariousness of information systems limits the actions of employees. The management was seen as incipient, helping minority in the work process and discussions. Team dissatisfaction reports were identified in relation to the process of demarcation of the territory to be held in isolation by the staff of the municipal administration and difficulties generated in the work process were pointed out. The importance of managers to support decision-making teams and appreciate the participation of workers and the population in the delimitation of the territories to improve health practices was emphasized.