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.