Health education in tuberculosis control: the perspective of Family Health strategy professionals

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to analyze health education actions developed by Family Health strategy teams for tuberculosis control. Seven focal groups were performed, with the participation of 37 professionals. The study was developed in a city of the state of Paraíba, considered a priority for the National Tuberculosis Control Program. The data were analyzed through thematic content analysis, using Paulo Freire’s Liberatory Education as the theoretical framework. It was found that the educational actions were timely and not much expressive in the teams’ working process, and mostly guided by the traditional education model. The concepts of education relate with transmitting information and move away from a dialogic approach, increasing autonomy and the ability of making a critical-analysis of the health-disease-care process. It was identified there was poor advancement in TB control, in the field of health education, due to the limited qualified human resources and frail social mobilization.

Descriptors: Nursing; Health Education; Tuberculosis; Family Health.