Associations of people with chronic condition: the policy as a strategy for the construction of citizenship

Abstract

In Brazil, the experience of chronic condition, mainly for people affected by limitations and disabilities, is marked by a history of challenges and sufferings when seeking care for their needs. The nursing is aware of the responsibilities facing by issues lived for them while it recognized the political power that they can acquire to constitute themselves as a politically organized group. In this report we bring the experience of the nursing in the creation of three users’ associations in Mato Grosso. Our objective was to aid this initiative and to explain the epistemological basis on which has been supporting this work, articulating theories with our practice as professionals and researchers in health. It was reported as we established the relationship with users and their families who experience chronic health conditions. We believe that we encourage the exercise of policy, the knowledge of the State’s responsibilities and the recognition of the strength of associations as instruments to support the search for attention to needs of life and health. However, due to the great difficulties that these people face in the production of their existence, this is a support that should be continued and more intensive than initially we thought.