Impacto do Programa de Saúde da Família sobre indicadores de saúde bucal na população de Natal -RN

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the Family Health Program (FHP) on a number of oral health indicators in the population of Natal, Brazil. The study is characterized as a quasi-random community intervention trial. The intervention is represented by the implementation of an Oral Health Team (OHT) in the FHP prior to the study. A total of 15 sectors covered by the FHP with OHT were randomly drawn and paired with another 15 sectors, based on socioeconomic criteria, not covered by the teams. A few sectors were lost over the course of the study, resulting in a final number of 22 sectors, 11 covered and 11 not covered. We divided the non-covered areas into two conditions, one in which we considered areas that had some type of assistance program such as the Community Agents Program (CAP), FHP without OHT, BHU (Basic Health Unit) or no assistance, and the other, in which we considered areas that had only BHU or no assistance. Community Health Agents (CHAs) and Dental Office Assistants (DOAs) applied a questionnaire-interview to the most qualified individual of the household and the data obtained per household were transformed into the individual data of 7186 persons. The results show no statistical difference between the oral health outcomes analyzed in the areas covered by OHT in the FHP and in non-covered areas that have some type of assistance program, with a number of indicators showing better conditions in the non-covered areas. When we considered the association between covered and non-covered areas under the second condition, we found a statistical difference in the coverage indicators. Better conditions were found in covered areas for indicators such as I have not been to the dentist in the last year with p < 0.001 and OR of 1.64 and I had no access to dental care with p < 0.001 and OR of 2.22. However, the results show no impact of FHP with OHT on preventive action indicators under both non-covered conditions. This can be clearly seen when we analyze the toothache variable, which showed no significant difference between covered and non-covered areas. This variable is one of the most sensitive when assessing oral health programs, with p of 0.430 under condition 1 and p of 0.038 under condition 2, with CI = 0.70-0.90. In the analysis of health indicators in children where the proportion of deaths in children under age 1, the rate of hospitalization for ARI (Acute Respiratory Infections) in those under age 5 and the proportion of individuals born underweight were considered, a better condition was found in all the outcomes for areas with FHP. Therefore, we can conclude that oral health in the FHP has little effect on oral health indicators, even though the strategy improves the general health conditions of the population, as, for example child health

Nervos: rede de discursos e práticas de cuidado na atenção básica no município de Natal/RN

The Primary Health Care and one of its main strategies, the Family Health Strategy (ESF), are framed as the gateway to the Public Health System (SUS). Thus, most of the incident and prevalent health problems in the population attended should be solved at this level of care, including psychological suffering, and the so-called complaint of nerves. Nerves and nervous denote a complexity that is not always well comprehended by health workers, in such a way that the care to this kind of problem is usually inadequate. In this line of thought, the general objective of this study is to analyze the network of discourses and the care to the psychological suffering, expressed as nerves, in SUS daily Primary Health Care. Besides and more specifically, it aims at identifying the principles and guidelines of the Primary Health Care in mental health; to investigate health workers positioning before psychological suffering and complaints of nerves, and also analyze different actions and practices of care carried out in different Health Units towards complaints like nerves. Institutional Ethnography was the theoreticalmethodological perspective adopted for the work. This approach seeks to understand and analyze the institutional relationships in a particular context considering sociostructural influences and power relations, as well as daily discourses and practices. Based on interviews with health professionals, informal conversations and observations in six Health Units with ESF teams from different sanitary districts in Natal/RN, it was possible to check that the index of complaint of nerves is high. The referral to psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as the prescription of psychotropic drugs appear as the most common intervention at this level of care. In general, the participants complain that they have poor specialized knowledge about the theme of mental health. They face the problem of bad work conditions and the lack of institutional support, which make actions of illnesses prevention and health promotion even more difficult. Besides, there are different ongoing practices such as meetings for hypertensive and aged people, walk, visit, round-table discussions and community therapy. However, not all of these actions are aimed at the care of psychological suffering. It is observed that the Matrix Support, which is a methodological strategy of supervision and follow up forcases of mental health, hasn t been totally implemented in the municipal system, although it is a tool that has been used by psychologists in some Health Units in the city. It was also verified that the health care practices to the problem of nerves strongly depend on the professional s commitment with the PSF guidelines and on mental health policies, in addition to continued support, when available, from other professional who works as matrix supporter

Avaliação da estratégia saúde da família na capital potiguar

This research aimed to evaluate the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, through its managers, professionals and users, having as its support the Theory of Belief and the Cognitive-Behavioral Theory. This is a multimethod research and is divided into three sub-studies. In the first study, nine managers answered to a semi-structured interview, to verify the knowledge and beliefs on SUS; the quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics with the aid of SPSS software and the qualitative data were submitted to lexical analysis with support of ALCESTE software. In the second study, we have a descriptive correlational research in which the antecedent variables are related to working conditions in the family health units (FHUs) and to the professionals‟ profile; the corresponding variables refer to the evaluations of the FHS; a stratified probabilistic sample with 475 professionals, who answered to two scales, both consisting of three factors: Physical infrastructure, Material resources, and Treatment effectiveness, and data were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics, with the aid of SPSS. The third study is a descriptive correlational research in which the antecedent variables refer to the treatment in the FHUs and to the users‟ profile, and the corresponding variables refer to the evaluations of the FHS, with a stratified non-probabilistic sample with 390 users, who contributed to the construction of a new scale with a factor, effectiveness in treatment, analyzed through descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics, with the aid of SPSS. The results showed problems which start from management, under the shape of admission due to political indication and lack of knowledge on SUS and the FHS; they pass through the low tenure of professionals and insufficient professional; and they end up spreading all over the analyzed items: infrastructure of FHUs, material resources, professionals‟ training, accessibility and referral system. One concludes that, despite following an ideal model, the FHS is in need of changes with regard to the barriers to its operational reality

Saúde mental na estratégia saúde da família: notas cartográficas sobre processos de trabalho em saúde

This study aims to map the working process in the health area starting from the meeting between the family and health teams and mental trouble carriers./MTC. The area of research was the Family Health Unit of Ozeas Sampaio, which is located in the county of Teresina-PI. As regard to the methodology procedure, we used a semi-structured interview timetable, aimed to detail the care practices, admittance and diagnostics that those teams realize with their users. Three teams of eleven workers each were interviewed. There was a doctor, a nurse and two health community agents in each team. The other tools we used were a camp logbook, in which we wrote down some informal dialogs, daily observations and feelings of the unit, and also the accompaniment of the staffs in house calls as well as the weekly meetings in the unit. Those meetings allowed us the construction of two analytic axes: 1) description of the establishment (Family Health Unit) of the organization, (municipal foundation of health and the service network), and the institutions and practice of health. 2) Analysis of the meetings between the worker and the user of Mental Trouble Carriers. In the first axis, we verified the repetition of the working logic focused on jobs in the hospital with the maintenance of the hierarchical relations between worker and the work processes which dissociate management and watchfulness in health care. We identified the lack of physical structure, the lack of self-confidence of the worker in the attention of the mental health care. At the second axis, we assess that the meetings, at the Family Health Unit (FHU) or at the dwelling of the users cause nuisance, discomfort and anxiety to the workers because they deal with issues that go beyond what is named as being the health order such as life stories, family conflicts, unemployment, hunger, sexual and psychological violence. As a matter of fact, they involve difficulties for having new relationships, reception and responsibility for this request

A psicologia e o programa de saúde da família :novas possibilidades, velhos dogmas?

The model of attention to health has been suffering alterations due to the difficulty faced to put into practice its universal, democratic and institutional layout. Since the movement of Sanitary Reform, which focused in the demands of a new health context and the process of work in the area of health, one seeks uninterruptedly, to find a way which leads to the execution of the principles of SUS. Despite having tried, the model of Sanitary Vigilance centered within the work of a multi-professional team has shown fragmentation and little adequacy to the necessity of health in the population. Whilst inserting himself in the field of health, the psychology professional has taken with him his clinic way of attending to individuals being one more in the team to act in a de-contextualised and little critical way. In virtue of this framework, the Ministry of Health invests in the Family Health Program as a new guide in the health system, restructuring the basic attention at a new logic of action. In this way, the municipality of Natal-RN implants, in the year 2002, the PSF in the Northern Sanitary District, a context in which professional teams are created where there is not an inclusion of a psychologist. Consequently, this professional is excluded of his work space in the previous Basic Unities of Health. This piece of work constitutes in the investigation of the implementation and instrumentalization of the Northern Sanitary District PSF of Natal-RN, having as its objective to analyze the implications of this execution for the structuring of the health network services and more specifically the alterations that this implementation could be making to the practice of the Psychology Professionals, emphasizing its advances, obstacles and limitations. To make this work feasible it was necessary to search for data and information from the implementation and execution of the PSF in the DSN, carrying interviews from a semi-structured guide, with 21 institutional actors (members of the team, coordinators and directors of the unities and psychologists)

Atenção precoce do câncer de mama :um olhar sobre o cotidiano institucional de uma unidade de saúde de Natal

Breast cancer has been considered a grave global public health problem due to its increase in incidence, in women s mortality and in the amount of financial resources spent on the therapeutic interventions used in the treatment of this neoplasia. However, this scenario presents some variations. In developing countries, the incidence of breast cancer is increasing but, on the other hand, the mortality is declining among patients because of public health actions toward early diagnostic that also result in cure of patients and decreasing levels of physical and psychosocial stress. In Brazil, we face of both the increasing number of breast cancer incidence and number of mortalities. Almost always the reason for that is a delayed detection that will provide a late diagnostic. The early detection of breast cancer has been studied in several researches. Some of them are concerned with women s experiences. Despite that, there is a lack of researches on dynamic comprehension of early attention to breast cancer from the health professionals points of view. The present research was carried out at the Unidade Mista de Felipe Camarão (UMFC) and it was conducted with 11 professionals who work in the Family Health Program (PSF). The aim was to understand how early diagnostic and attention to breast cancer is being planned, discussed and accomplished by health professionals in their day-to-day actions. Semi-structure interviews were held individually with each professional, in a way that they could feel free to express their ideas about several issues. All the information from these interviews was analyzed and discussed using an Institutional Ethnographic approach. It was observed that the actions of health professionals working with early detection of breast cancer does not take place in a vacuum; they occur within institutional, relational and social ways. This interdependence influences their actions and points of view on the theme

Suporte ao uso de álcool e drogas na atenção primária: um estudo com equipes de Natal/RN

National surveys indicate that 6.8 % of the brazilian population is dependent on alcohol and 1 % dependent on illicit drugs, representing a significant portion of the population affected by this issue . Primary Care becomes instrumental in expanding the coverage of this demand and in reducing unnecessary referrals for specialized care. This study aimed to investigate the responsiveness and institutional support of Primary Care Teams in relation to the demands of alcohol and drugs users. The research was conducted in a Family Health Unit in West Sanitary District of Natal City. With quantitative and qualitative nature, our study consisted of two stages. At first, we performed a mapping of alcohol and other drugs abusive use in a sample of the population assisted by Family Heath Teams, using sociodemographic questionnaire and ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test). 406 questionnaires were completed. Of these questionnaires, 27.8% are men and 72.2% women, of which 56% are between 20 and 39 years-old, they are housewives, have a stable relationship and are consumers of tobacco (37.6%), marijuana (13%) and especially alcohol (57%). In second stage, two Conversation Circles with Family Health Teams and the referential Family Health Support Center were formed to discuss the data of the mapping realized in the previous phase. The circles, which had participation of 20 of the 37 professional teams from Family Health and 2 from Family Health Support Center, showed a lack of professional training in the subject; inability of the healthcare network in the user embracement; belief of professionals that nothing can be done when matter is alcohol and drugs; and referencing as the only care action performed by teams. Thus we point out the need to support an approach on issues of alcohol and drugs which consider gender issues, investing in Harm Reduction Policy as a possibility of working in this context for recognizing each user in their uniqueness and strategizing with them to promote health in a broad and contextualized way

O fazer do psicólogo no núcleo de apoio à saúde da família

The Brazilian Ministry of Health regulated in 2008 the Family Health Support Nucleus (FHSN) as a device for support and complementarity to the Family Health Strategy. The FHSN, through the matrix support, potentiates the Family Health teams on dealing with a great variety of demands and activities that are under their responsibilities. It is structured in teams of professionals from various health specialties, among which is the mental health. In preliminary studies we noticed that the psychologists have been the main representatives of mental health professionals at the FHSN from Rio Grande do Norte (RN-Brazil). On this scenario, this study intends to problematize the professional practice of the psychologists who work at the FHSN teams in RN, regarding how their work is done, discussing it under the perspective of collective health and the directions for the basic health care on Brazilian s health system. Still as a goal, in more specific ways: identify the forms of professional insertion of the psychologists in this field; characterize the work done by the psychologist at the FHSN (developed activities); and produce an analysis of the characteristics and limits of those actions, from theoretical and methodological references based on Marxian ontology. Were performed semistructured interviews with psychologists working in the oldest FHSN teams form RN. We conducted the analysis of the material following the blocks of information: determinants of the psychologist entry at the services, training for current practice; operation of FHSN; activities performed by FHSN team and the psychologist; joint actions; and limits of psychology practice in the FHSN. An important result, we observed the little articulation of practicing between the psychology and other professionals and teams, further indicating the prevalence of the traditional medical model (individual and outpatient) as guidance of their performance instead of the matrix logic that is the foundation of the proposed action for the FHSN. We also emphasize the potential of psychologists actions at the FHSN on contributing to the achievement of comprehensive care

Avaliação do programa de atenção à saúde do trabalhador: uma abordagem da atenção primária

The accelerated industrialization, coming with the Industrial Revolution, caused profound changes in the working world. These changes led to the households risks from work environment. Trying to assist comprehensively the health of workers, Brazil has a program of Health Care Workers in the Primary Care, and the Family Health Strategy is the main entrance for this system. The study sought to determine if the actions of the health care worker have been developed in primary care through the Family Health Strategy. This is a quantitative study with a methodological evaluation, focusing on normative assessment. The sample was formed by professionals from Team Family Health Strategy, in the municipalities of Pau dos Ferros, Caicó and Natal in Rio Grande do Norte state. The sample consists of 202 professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Assistant / Technician Nursing and Community Health Workers) in 52 Health Family Units from the 3 municipalities cited. The instrument used consists of a checklist, from Manual of Primary Care 5 - Family Health - Occupational Health, Ministry of Health. The data were analyzed describing the variables by its frequency and doing a classification of cities from the scores obtained by each. It was observed that the Family Health professionals know the program of health care worker, however do not know the Manual of Primary Care 5, which is a guidance tool. As a result of non-appropriation of the FHT professionals with worker health, these activities are not performed, mainly surveillance in occupational health and health education labor

Práticas educativas e integralidade na saúde da família: um estudo etnográfico

Primary Health Care, especially in the family health strategy, it is expected that the joint assistance and actions of health promotion. The Ministry of health (BRAZIL, 2007) defines health education as an eyeshadow strategy of prevention and health promotion, based on reflective practices, which allow the user to their condition of historical, social and political subject, under the vision of an expanded clinic on the part of health professionals. In this sense, there are guidelines for it professionals to develop educational activities and that they can interfere in the health/disease process of the population, with a view to the development of autonomy of the subject. This research had as objective to understand in the light of the integrality of the care, as is the production of health education practices, within the framework of the family health strategy from ethnographic study in a family health unit (USF). The location of the research was the unit of USF Felipe Camarão II in West Health District, in the city of Natal, RN, Brazil, selected from preliminary mapping of educational practices deployed in units of health of the family of this municipality, based on criteria such as time-to-deployment of USF and sustainability of existing actions. Immersion in the field consisted of participant observation with journaling, held during the period of August 2012 to January 2013, in which she accompanied team work processes in clinical-welfare actions on the USF, in households and in educational activities of group character. The results presented in ethnographic description were analyzed based on the axes proposed by Ayres (2009) for identification of integrality in health practices:the axis of the needs; the axis of the purposes; the joint axis; and the axis of the interactionsThe evidence described from observation point the presence of each axle up health education practices developed by the teams, even incipient form, namely: articulation and appreciation of knowledge and practices of popular culture with local initiatives (Pastoril do Peixe Boi Encantado, Auto de Natal e Grupo Terapia e Arte); Clinical integration with health promotion actions and coordination of multidisciplinary knowledge, with professional-user link (course for pregnant women). However, a few challenges were identified to be faced in order to move forward in these practices in integral care: the need to break with the fragmentation of actions; strengthening teamwork; need for greater sustainability policy of collective actions; intersectoral work aimed at a better role of the State in the face of the health-disease process, adding to the action of individuals.The analysis produced from observation of the processes experienced indicates the need for a better recognition of local managers that actions similar to those that occur in the USF Felipe Camarão II enable advances in completeness as allows inclusion of actors involved in the processes of health work, and stimulate participation and shared responsibility in the fight for health-disease situations

Avaliação das ações do Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF) em Macaíba/RN

This research evaluated the contribution of the Support Center for Family Health (SCFH) in relation to its effect on the Family Health Units through perception of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and SCFH professionals, in addition to the satisfaction of users in relation to that role. Data were collected in the public health services of the city of Macaíba-RN in 2012, through semi-structured questionnaire and non participant systematic observation and it counted as investigated subjects 272 individuals (60 FHS professionals, 12 SCFH professionals and 200 users representatives of 20 units). For analysis of the responses of the opened questions was used categorization process and, in relation to the observational method, that was based on checking the space organization, the characteristics of the participating subjects and the specific set of activities performed by SCFH teams through an observation guide. The results point to a good acceptance of the SCFH teams role by most FHS professionals who reported active participation in the health units routine, its integration activities to the FHS teams with resolving based health promotion actions. Regarding the SCFH professionals, they also reported positive contribution by participating actively in the units routine with integrated activities to the ESF teams and developing resolute actions. For users, the SCFH brought assurance services with better access to specialized, resolving and welcoming care. Systematic observation ratified data obtained by questionnaire. It was perceived the need to implement actions related to man`s health, to invest in expanding the number of the SCFH teams, the greater supply of medications, improving the regulatory process and planning together as a key strategy to promote a more effective integration between teams SCFH / FHS

Análise de redes do cotidiano a partir do encontro entre usuários e profissionais da estratégia saúde da família

O presente estudo discute a formação de Redes Sociais no cotidiano da Estratégia Saúde da Família, a partir de aportes da teoria sociológica sobre redes, interações, dádiva e reconhecimento. O objetivo geral é analisar as redes sociais locais em saúde a partir da interação de usuários e profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família na Unidade de Saúde de Ligéia, em Natal, RN. Seus objetivos específicos são: Mapear as redes sociais locais em saúde existentes no território adscrito; Identificar os tipos de interações cotidianas entre os sujeitos; Compreender a percepção dos sujeitos sobre o processo de formação de redes sociais a partir das interações. Caracteriza-se enquanto pesquisa qualitativa exploratória cujos sujeitos foram profissionais e usuários vinculados à referida unidade de saúde. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizadas entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas e debates em grupos focais, estimulados pela Metodologia de Análise de Redes do Cotidiano (MARES), pertinente para abordar a complexidade das relações sociais e mapear os diferentes conteúdos expressos e as formas de mobilização coletiva. A análise dos dados foi realizada através da Técnica de Análise Temática de Conteúdo, proposta por Minayo. Os resultados foram interpretados à luz das Teorias da Dádiva (Mauss) e do Reconhecimento (Honneth). Os sujeitos visualizaram: Rede Virtual (28,20%); Rede de Atenção à Saúde (25,64%); Redes de Usuários (17,95%); Rede Pessoal (10,26%); Conselho Comunitário (10,26%); Escolas (7,69%). Os participantes não perceberam os arranjos familiares enquanto Redes Sociais. Os tipos de interações sociais identificadas foram: Confrontação/Negociação (41.02%); Harmônicas (25,70%); Correlativas (17,90%); Definidas pela Organização (15,38%). A formação de redes sociais ocorre a partir de interações cotidianas entre pessoas, pela articulação inseparável de conteúdos e formas, catalisadas pelo contexto, experiência e cognição, valorizando a liberdade, a expressividade e a diversidade dos parceiros de significação. Foram encontradas duas categorias, na percepção dos sujeitos, sobre a formação de redes sociais do cotidiano: Diálogo e Encontro. Validamos e recomendamos o uso da metodologia MARES: Na formação, para despertar uma visão mais tolerante e humana de si e do outro; Na avaliação qualitativa dos serviços, por facilitar a reflexão sobre a prática e (re)organização do processo de trabalho; Na comunidade, para estimular movimentos sociais existentes ou emergentes. A aposta no circuito da dádiva e do reconhecimento recíproco, durante o trânsito nas redes sociais em saúde, pode ser capaz de tecer uma práxis transformadora, pela busca e alcance de confiança, respeito e estima, nos espaços de encontro entre usuários e profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família

PET-saúde na percepção de estudantes: contribuições para a formação na área de saúde

This dissertation aimed to analyze the perception of students about (EPW Health) Education Program at Work for Health Training in the area of Health. It discusses the proposed theme from the perception of students graduating from the EPW- Health courses participants (dentistry, medicine, physiotherapy, nursing, nutrition, physical education) who have developed their school activities in family health units in the city of João Pessoa between 2009/2011.The program aims policies curricular changes as a potential route of contributions to training in healthcare. Attention is drawn to the new possibilities of working health training contextualized, ethically grounded, socially endorsed. It is pointed out in this process the need to adapt to the demands of professional profiles of SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde). This is an exploratory, descriptive study within a qualitative approach, conducted in the city of João Pessoa in the context of health care courses at the Federal University of Paraiba. The empirical material of this study was treated by the use of technical analysis "Categorical Content Theme" by Bardin. The results indicate prospects for promoting new practices and curricular changes, which highlights the EPW- Health, which has been presenting important experiences in teaching -community -service- with the inclusion of students in the municipal health network. We conclude that the path from collection to data analysis, corroborated with the literature to reaffirm the importance and urgency of change in educational processes with a view to greater proximity to the health needs and the SUS. The EPW- Health project is incipient and requires further investigation in terms of effective interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary character of its proposal

Ações educativas com portadores de diabetes Mellitus através da educação popular em saúde

Popular Health Education in its emancipatory dimension refers to individuals and groups to exchange knowledge and experiences, allowing them to associate health to the outcomes of their living conditions. Under this view, health workers and health users are subjects of the educative process. Thus, this study aims to identify the key clinical and socio sanitary attributes and promote educational activities with patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in a Family Health Care Unit of the Western Sanitary District, in the city of Natal / RN. It is an action research which uses the references of the Theory of Liberating Education, which is based on a problem-solving pedagogy and that values dialogue in the process of understanding oneself and the world. Thirty-six diabetics, who are residents of the area covered by the health care unit, and thirty health workers participated in the survey. Each group had an average of twelve participants, and the meetings took place at the Unit´s hall, using conversation wheels, group dynamics, life narratives, experiences telling, movie exhibition and discussions, music, knowledge telling, desires, limitations, beliefs and values socially constructed. Data collection took place during the second half of two thousand and thirteen through Free Word Association Technique (FWAT), recordings of conversation wheels, participative observation, group dynamics, testimonies, questionnaires, life narratives and photographs. The empirical material was organized and subjected to three analyzes: thematic content (Bardin), textual statistics analysis by software IRAMUTEQ (Ratinaud), and photographic analysis (Edmund Feldman). The data analyses originated words, expressions, categories, themes and creative situations showing that popular health education is in process of construction, but still very incipient in primary care. The National Policy on Popular Health Education shows us the necessary ways for the transformation of health practices and the build of a more shared and solidary society. The meetings could be place to reverse that normative logic that has been happening over the years in primary care, but that by itself is not enough. It is possible to conclude that the use of active practices, increasing of listening and training on Popular Health Education will enable changes in the scenario where users and health workers deal with diabetes mellitus. Thus we see the popular health education is being timidly incorporated to the educational process of the subjects involved in this study, and far away from the principles of participation, organization of political work, increase opportunities for dialogue, respect, solidarity and tolerance among different actors involved in addressing the health problems that are fundamental to the improvement in building healthy practices of primary care

Limites e possibilidades da educação em saúde na estratégia de saúde da família de Pau dos Ferros/RN

A Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) apresenta-se como um espaço privilegiado para a efetivação de práticas de educação em saúde orientadas pelo diálogo entre o saber científico e o saber popular, uma vez que é nesse espaço de saúde que profissionais e indivíduos/família se interrelacionam, criam vínculos, dialogam e constroem soluções para o enfrentamento dos problemas de saúde da população. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar os limites e as possibilidades de efetivação da educação em saúde voltada para a coletividade na ESF de Pau dos Ferros/RN. Nesse sentido, buscou-se conhecer as concepções de educação em saúde dos profissionais de nível universitário da ESF; observar onde as práticas de educação eram desenvolvidas; conhecer os conteúdos e metodologias utilizadas para a efetivação das práticas de educação em saúde e caracterizar os espaços onde tais práticas eram desenvolvidas. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter descritivo-exploratório realizada junto a nove equipes localizadas na zona urbana do município. Foram investigados 28 profissionais que atuam nessas equipes, dentre os quais elencamos: quatro médicos, oito enfermeiros e dezesseis cirurgiões dentistas. Fez-se uso da entrevista semiestruturada e da observação baseada em princípios etnográficos. Os dados foram analisados com base na técnica de análise de conteúdo de Bardin. O estudo obedeceu aos aspectos éticos contidos na Resolução 196/96 que regulamenta as Pesquisas Envolvendo Seres Humanos. Os resultados apontam que as concepções e práticas de educação em saúde dos profissionais da ESF são orientadas por uma educação bancária , pautadas pela transmissão e reprodução de conhecimentos. As temáticas são desenvolvidas de forma verticalizada, dissonantes da realidade de vida e saúde dos usuários. As práticas educativas são ofertadas majoritariamente por enfermeiros e estudantes de graduação em estágio na USF. Em sua maioria não são planejadas em equipe, e estão direcionadas à prevenção de doenças, distanciando-se da promoção da saúde. As principais dificuldades apontadas para a efetivação da educação em saúde dizem respeito à dificuldade de trabalhar em equipe, à falta de apoio da gestão, à estrutura física inadequada e a pouca adesão dos profissionais as práticas educativas. Portanto, a educação em saúde praticada na ESF não consegue instrumentalizar os sujeitos para que estes tenham autonomia e possam tornar-se sujeitos de suas vidas, de sua história. A prática educativa centrada na transmissão de conhecimentos ainda é uma realidade presente na ESF, constituindo-se em um desafio a ser superado