Percepção do Agente Comunitário de Saúde sobre os desafios e potencialidades do seu trabalho no enfrentamento a pandemia de COVID-19
Percepção do Agente Comunitário de Saúde sobre os desafios e potencialidades do seu trabalho no enfrentamento a pandemia de COVID-19
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DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.4152301098
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Palavras-chave: Atenção Primària à Saúde, Agentes Comunitários de Saúde, Covid-19
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Keywords: Primary Health Care, Community Health Workers, Coronavirus Infections.
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Abstract: Introduction: Primary Health Care has a fundamental role in addressing the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), being able to act through health promotion and prevention actions, in addition to coordinating the health care network of the Unified Health System. Among the health professionals, there are the Community Health Agents, who have as one of their main characteristics the fact of residing within the territory in which they work in becoming the bond between the health services and the community. The pandemic urges the need to rethink the work for all of the health care levels to deal with a severe health situation like this particular one. It becomes apparent the need to understand the possibilities and difficulties of addressing the pandemic in relation to the work of the Community Health Agent since they are the health professionals that are the closest to the territory and the needs of the population. Objective: To understand the perception of the Community Health Agent about the challenges and potential of their work in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: This is a case study with a descriptive qualitative approach. The data collection method was carried out through semi-structured interviews with Community Health Agents in Franco da Rocha municipality. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed according to thematic categories. Results: Questions regarding the meaning the Community Health Agent attribute to their work were comprehended, mainly feelings of gratitude and comfort when helping the Unified Health System users, with who they have a bond. Changes caused by the pandemic were seen, among which the interviewees refer to the distance from the territory and, consequently, the users, in addition to feelings of fear and uncertainty regarding the virus. One of the ways to overcome this physical distance is the more intense use of telehealth actions to continue monitoring the population. The Community Health Agents also report a work of orientation and monitorization of cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2. No intersectoral actions were reported as well as a collective approach of care for the territory. Conclusion: The pandemic brought the need to reorganize the work of the Community Health Agent. Initially, there were many uncertainties and discontinuity in the contact of the Community Health Agents in person in the territory. This study showed that this health professional has great potential to contribute to Primary Health Care in tackling the pandemic, based on the bond with users, the knowledge they have about the population of the territory, and the incorporation of means of care that were not used before, such as telehealth. The pandemic is still far from being concluded and it is of great importance to understand all the possibilities of this professional has to address the pandemic, such as mobilization and community participation, and intersectoral actions, aspects that were not pointed out by the professionals participating in this study.
- Kelice Macedo Souza
- Fabiana Santos Lucena