Participação popular e controle social em saúde: Desafios da Estratégia Saúde da Família

Abstract

Social control in Brazil has come through a process of social struggle, specially starting with the social movements. A qualitative study with the technique of action research was developed, aiming at building a popular participation and social control process within a Family Health Team in the south of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The subjects of the study were the population who attended the healthcare service, participating or not in the organized social movements, and the health workers. Data collection comprised participant observation and interviews. The construction of citizen participation and social control process was developed in three moments: awareness of the situation, independent dialogue and "D" moment. The study presents alternatives for this process. In this case, dialogue was the essential instrument to encourage and search of other ways for the Unified Health System.