Participação popular na atenção primária em saúde: fragilidades e potencialidades

Abstract

One of the great advances in the process of democratization in decision-making, in matters related to health in Brazil, was introduced by the Federal Constitution of 1988, when the Unified Health System (SUS) was elaborated and popular participation was established through mechanisms that make representative, among them the health councils. In this context, over the years, it is necessary to observe if the participation of the population occurs in an effective way. This study, therefore, aims to verify the popular participation in subjects that involve the processes of health management in the municipality of Patos, state of Paraíba. In order to do so, it was sought to know the actions of the users of the Unified Health System, more precisely in the first level, the primary health care, in the municipal health councils, verifying if the management mechanisms guaranteed in theory are applied in practice. The results suggest that most users of primary health care do not have the knowledge about a participative management tool so important for all who have an interest in participating in decision making processes involving health issues for the population of the entire municipality.