Home visits by Family Health Strategy nurses and community health agents

Abstract

The objective of this article was to describe the practice of nurses and community health agents within the context of the Family Health Strategy home visits. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Data collection was performed between January and March of 2010, through semi-structured interviews with eight nurses and seven community health agents from two family health units in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Data were submitted to content analysis. Low interaction was observed between nurses and community health agents in the home visits. Work overload and violence are the main hindrances identified for performing home visits. It was found that the home visit planning was unsystematic. Permanent education should be intensified with the purpose to discuss, following a problem-posing approach, the roles and attributions of each team member in the home visit, as well as the systematization of this activity.

Descriptors: Family Health; Nursing; Community Health Workers; Home Visit.