Implicações éticas de inquéritos: Populacionais epidemiológicos

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and analyze the possible implications of an ethical nature arising from epidemiological population surveys based on the testimony of managers of the National Oral Health Survey. Case study was used as a qualitative research method. There were 14 respondents from 11 states and the Federal District: nine from the Steering Group, three from the Technical Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health and two coordinators, one State, the other Municipal. The collective subject discourse technique was used. Six central ideas were identified: generate actions that benefit the people, as the benefits of a survey are indirect; use it to generate new knowledge; promote the drafting of more equitable public policies; provide closer ties between academia and the service; help towards having professionals review their practices; and generate memory, that is, register changes in the health status of the population in epidemiological terms. For the respondents, these investigations have certain ethical attributes, such as contributing towards overcoming iniquitous health situations.