Potentialities of social participation in Primary Health Care in the city of João Pessoa – PB, Brazil

Abstract

This article analyzed the main achievements and opportunities built from the spaces of social participation in primary health care from the perspective of users, workers, and managers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 people from 5 Family Health Units in the city of João Pessoa - Paraíba. Interviews’ analysis was done with readings of transcriptions, followed by interpretative efforts and approximation of similar ideas that were raised by different interviewees, which were grouped in dimensions. After, the ideas were summarized in four main dimensions: enhancement of active and critical community participation in the definition and construction of actions in healthcare; improvement of the ways of caring and organizing the service and work process in the unit; creation of new social spaces, experiences, and projects for health promotion in the territory; and, enhancement of the quality of life of people involved in the spaces of participation. Active social participation is fundamental for the spaces to generate devolution actions according to the population’s demand. Only then, they may perform their role of modifying local reality and empowering these social players.