Inserção do terapeuta ocupacional em dispositivos da rede de saúde no município de João Pessoa

Abstract

The Occupational Therapy had its recognition through the Decree Law n. 938/1969. In Paraiba the first course emerged with the Resolution n. 12/2009, starting its activities in 2010 with the proposal to form generalist professionals to work for Unified Health System (UHS) and Unified Social Assistance System (USAS). The occupational therapist is a professional able to assign diagnosis of occupational performance and intervene to treat limitations in order to achieve the highest possible level of autonomy and independence of the individual. In João Pessoa the inclusion of the professional in public health policy is taking place too slowly, but progressively. The unknowing and incomprehension of the profession have restrained the formation of working teams that include the occupational therapist as an integral part of these spaces. This study aimed to analyze the perception of the coordinators of public health policies from João Pessoa concerning to insertion of the occupational therapist in the municipal health network devices. Coordinators of public policies on municipal health, due to the relevance of their contributions, meaningful and appropriate to the delineation of the subject under discussion, participated in this research through a descriptive exploratory study of qualitative approach. Eight coordinators of the technical health areas, which support the operation of the local network, were interviewed. The type semi-structured interview was adopted, allowing reveals important aspects for data collection. The obtained material was categorized and interpreted on the basis of theoretical referential adopted, the so-called Content Analysis, according to Minayo. This analysis enabled the cross check between different information gathered and has linked what was unveiled with the methodological theoretical referential. It also made possible that the different categories, after constructed, presented, analyzed and discussed had their dimensions confronted, and, in the face of variety of responses from the guiding question, was admitted the identification of ten thematic nuclei. Regarding the results and discussion of the findings, evidenced that research participants understand that the insertion process of the occupational therapist faces many difficulties relevant to the operation of the policy and the recognition of the profession, and they should claim their inclusion in the network services municipal health through local actions and mobilization of the category with the support of the grade council and the educational institution. Despite the difficulty in understanding the powers of occupational therapist, for some participants it was noticeable that in his technical area there are users with changes in occupational performance, mainly understanding that these professionals can operate in these areas, since their performing area is large and it operates in virtually all specificities. Therefore, the study evidences the importance of the necessary insertion of occupational therapist in the public health policy of João Pessoa city and the health coordinators perception about the occupational therapist professional.